Desmatodon

Desmatodon; Temporal range:Late Carboniferous,Kasimovian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Order:	†Diadectomorpha
Family:	†Diadectidae
Genus:	†Desmatodon; Case,1908
Species
	†D. hollandiCase, 1908 (type); †D. hesperisVaughn,1969;

Desmatodonis an extinctgenusofdiadectid reptiliomorph.With fossils found from theKasimovian(Missourian) stage of theLate CarboniferousofPennsylvania,Colorado,andNew Mexicoin theUnited States,^[1]Desmatodonis the oldest known diadectid. Two species are currently recognized: thetype speciesD. hollandiand the speciesD. hesperis.

Description

Remains ofDesmatodonhave been found from theGlenshaw Formationof Pennsylvania, theSangre de Cristo Formationin Colorado, and theCutler Formationof New Mexico. The genus is known mostly from teeth and portions of skulls. The cheek teeth are robust and spade-shaped with several cusps on their surfaces. The two species can be distinguished by the distribution of teeth in their jaws;D. hesperishas tightly packed teeth whileD. hollandihas widely spaced teeth. In both species, the lower jaw is deep and possesses a ridge that may have aided in chewing plant material. Some specimens that are thought to belong to young individuals have fewer, more widely spaced teeth with no wear facets.^[2]

Paleobiology

Like most other diadectids,Desmatodonwas a terrestrial herbivore that consumed high-fiber plants. Protruding incisiform teeth and a large digestive tract may have allowed the animal to effectively consume and digest plant material. Being the oldest diadectid,Desmatodonalso is the oldest known herbivorous land vertebrate.^[2]

References

^Voigt, S.; Ganzelewski M (2010)."Toward the origin of amniotes: Diadectomorph and synapsid footprints from the early Late Carboniferous of Germany"(PDF).Acta Palaeontologica Polonica.55(1): 66.doi:10.4202/app.2009.0021.Retrieved3 December2012.
^^a ^bKissel, R. (2010).Morphology, Phylogeny, and Evolution of Diadectidae (Cotylosauria: Diadectomorpha).Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 185.hdl:1807/24357.

[Voigt-1] Voigt, S.; Ganzelewski M (2010)."Toward the origin of amniotes: Diadectomorph and synapsid footprints from the early Late Carboniferous of Germany"(PDF).Acta Palaeontologica Polonica.55(1): 66.doi:10.4202/app.2009.0021.Retrieved3 December2012.

[KR10-2] Kissel, R. (2010).Morphology, Phylogeny, and Evolution of Diadectidae (Cotylosauria: Diadectomorpha).Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 185.hdl:1807/24357.

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