Several revisions part 4
Nasua, the coatimundi, has new relatives
in the large reptile tree (LRT, 2336 taxa): Amphicyon (two species) and Ursavus (Fig. 1). The latter used to nest with bears like Ursus. The former are considerd ‘bear dogs’. These four currently nest as basal placental-1 taxa, close to the origin of Carnivora and Primates, but going their own way.
Figure 1. These former members of Carnivora now nest with the coatimundi, Nasua. Not the long straight rostroum and cranial crest.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/nasua.amphicyon.ursavus588.jpg?w=150″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/nasua.amphicyon.ursavus588.jpg?w=511″ class=”size-full wp-image-94205″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/nasua.amphicyon.ursavus588.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. These former members of Carnivora now nest with the coatimundi, Nasua. Not the long straight rostroum and cranial crest. ” width=”584″ height=”1170″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/nasua.amphicyon.ursavus588.jpg?w=584&h=1170 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/nasua.amphicyon.ursavus588.jpg?w=75&h=150 75w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/nasua.amphicyon.ursavus588.jpg?w=150&h=300 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/nasua.amphicyon.ursavus588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. These former members of Carnivora now nest with the coatimundi, Nasua. Note the long straight rostral profile, three premolars, three molars and cranial crest.
The notoungulates, represented here by Thomashuxleya
(Fig 2), are now closer to the oreodonts, represented here by Merycoidodon (Fig 2).
Figure 2. The oreodontd, Merycoidodon, compared to the notoungulate, Thomashuxleya to scale.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/thomashuxleya-merycoidodon.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/thomashuxleya-merycoidodon.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-94208″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/thomashuxleya-merycoidodon.jpg” alt=”Figure 2. The oreodontd, Merycoidodon, compared to the notoungulate, Thomashuxleya to scale. ” width=”584″ height=”501″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/thomashuxleya-merycoidodon.jpg?w=584&h=501 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/thomashuxleya-merycoidodon.jpg?w=150&h=129 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/thomashuxleya-merycoidodon.jpg?w=300&h=257 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/thomashuxleya-merycoidodon.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 2. The oreodontd, Merycoidodon, compared to the notoungulate, Thomashuxleya to scale.
Finally given a phylogenetic home,
that seems to make sense, flat-skulled Lophiaspis (Fig 3) now nests basal to Archaeotherium (Fig 3) in the LRT. Unfortunately, the skull of Lophiaspis is so crushed that interpretation needs a Bauplan like Archaeotherium. Even so, Lophiaspis is now a red taxon in the LRT because its deletion from the matrix reduced the MPTs by a few dozen points = increased resolution in far flung clades.
Figure 3. Lophiaspis compared to the larger Archaeotherium.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/archaeotherium_lophiaspis_skulls588.jpg?w=126″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/archaeotherium_lophiaspis_skulls588.jpg?w=429″ class=”size-full wp-image-94211″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/archaeotherium_lophiaspis_skulls588.jpg” alt=”Figure 3. Lophiaspis compared to the larger Archaeotherium.” width=”584″ height=”1394″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/archaeotherium_lophiaspis_skulls588.jpg?w=584&h=1394 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/archaeotherium_lophiaspis_skulls588.jpg?w=63&h=150 63w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/archaeotherium_lophiaspis_skulls588.jpg?w=126&h=300 126w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/archaeotherium_lophiaspis_skulls588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 3. Lophiaspis compared to the larger Archaeotherium.
Agriochoerus antiquus
(Fig 4) shares traits with pre-desmostylians, like Rostriamynodon, but now nests in the LRT with their traditional relatives, the aquatic oreodonts. This is a case of convergence not recognized until recently.
Figure 4. Several oreodonts to scale including Merycoidodon, Sespia, Leptauchenia and Agriochoerus antiquus.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/aquatic.oreodonts.skulls588.jpg?w=142″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/aquatic.oreodonts.skulls588.jpg?w=484″ class=”size-full wp-image-94213″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/aquatic.oreodonts.skulls588.jpg” alt=”Figure 4. Several oreodonts to scale including Merycoidodon, Sespia, Leptauchenia and Agriochoerus antiquus.” width=”584″ height=”1237″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/aquatic.oreodonts.skulls588.jpg?w=584&h=1237 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/aquatic.oreodonts.skulls588.jpg?w=71&h=150 71w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/aquatic.oreodonts.skulls588.jpg?w=142&h=300 142w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/aquatic.oreodonts.skulls588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 4. Several oreodonts to scale including Merycoidodon, Sespia, Leptauchenia and Agriochoerus antiquus.
Glad to have the former errors corrected here.
The mammal subset of the LRT includes some 620 taxa, so it took awhile to get to every last one. Even so, corrections here, created problems elsewhere in this fragile subset – hopefully improving and slowly getting closer to modeling actual evolutionary events.
References
wiki/Agriochoerus
wiki/Rostriamynodon not yet posted
wiki/Oodectes
wiki/Merycoidodon
wiki/Sespia
wiki/Leptauchenia
wiki/Archaeotherium
wiki/Lophiaspis
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2025/08/18/several-revisions-part-4/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
| Visits: | 1,719,228,666 |
| Stories: | 8,475,070 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
