Hedgehog Day 2: Nesting the former hedgehog Brachyerix with Carpolestes
Rich and Rich 1971 described,
“Brachyerix, a Miocene Hedgehog from Western North America.”
“Members of one extinct subfamily, the Brachyericinae, underwent a remarkable shortening of the skull and a reduction in the number of teeth during the Oligocene, Miocene, and early Pliocene.”
Rich and Rich did not mention Carpolestes (Fig 1).
Figure 1. Carpolestes (left) compared to scale with Brachyerix (right).
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/brachyerix_carpolestes588.jpg?w=255″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/brachyerix_carpolestes588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-91362″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/brachyerix_carpolestes588.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. Carpolestes (left) compared to scale with Brachyerix (right). ” width=”584″ height=”688″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/brachyerix_carpolestes588.jpg?w=584&h=688 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/brachyerix_carpolestes588.jpg?w=127&h=150 127w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/brachyerix_carpolestes588.jpg?w=255&h=300 255w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/brachyerix_carpolestes588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. Carpolestes (left) compared to scale with Brachyerix (right).
The Carpolestes skeleton
(Fig 2) is not similar to that of a hedgehog. In the large reptile tree (LRT, 2336 taxa) these two nest between Plesiadapis and Microsyops, basal to Multituberculates + Rodents.
Post-crania are not known for Brachyerix. These taxa phylogenetically precede hedgehogs in the LRT.
Figure 1. Carpolestes has a thumb-like hallux and polled (digit 1 on manus and pes). Those are primitive traits, not derived ones.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carpolestes588.jpg?w=226″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carpolestes588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-24354″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carpolestes588.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. Carpolestes has a thumb-like hallux and polled (digit 1 on manus and pes). Those are primitive traits, not derived ones.” width=”584″ height=”774″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carpolestes588.jpg?w=584&h=774 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carpolestes588.jpg?w=113&h=150 113w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carpolestes588.jpg?w=226&h=300 226w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carpolestes588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. Carpolestes has a thumb-like hallux and polled (digit 1 on manus and pes). Those are primitive traits, not derived ones.
Carpolestes snigridens
(Simpson 1928; late Paleocene, 58 mya; ~20cm in length) was traditionally considered an outgroup to the Primates, but here nests as a primate-like marsupial basal to the placental2 clade beginning with Daubentonia (the extant aye-aye), Multituberculata, Plesiadapiformes (including beavers and Sirenia) and Rodentia.
Like Notharctus, Carpolestes had a thumb-like pollex and hallux, and was a long-limbed arboreal herbivore. Note the large last lower premolar, a precursor to the otherwise unique multituberculate tooth.
Brachyerix macrotis
(Rich and Rich 1971; Miocene) was considered a Micoene hedgehog from Western North America. Here it nests with Carpolestes, close to Plesiadapis, basal to rodents and multituberulates.
References
Rich TH, Rich PV 1971. Brachyerix, a Miocene hedgehog from western North America, with a description of the tympanic regions of Paraechinus and Podogymnura. American
Museum Novitates 2477: 1–58.
Simpson G G 1928. A new mammalian fauna from the Fort Union of southern Montana. American Museum Novitates 297:1-15.
wiki/Carpolestes
wiki/Brachyerix – not yet posted
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2025/01/29/hedgehog-day-2-nesting-the-former-hedgehog-brachyerix-with-carpolestes/
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