Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Cretaceous multituberculate skeleton and the early evolution of the mammalian shoulder girdle

Nature volume 377, pages 144–147 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

A Cretaceous eucosmodont multituberculate mammal skeleton has been found in Mongolia with all of the bony elements of the shoulder girdle in place. This specimen demonstrates a different forelimb stance from that recently hypothesized for another Cretaceous eucosmodont. Primitively, it retains a separate ossified inter-clavicle, as in monotremes and non-mammalian cynodonts. In other respects it shares with therians and their extinct allies key features associated with mobility of the pectoral girdle and shoulder joint during locomotion, and a more parasagittal forelimb posture. This locomotor transformation appears to have evolved just once among the common ancestors of multituberculates and therians, some time before the Late Jurassic.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jenkins, F. A. Jr & Weijs, W. A. J. Zool. 188, 379–410 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Jenkins, F. A. Jr J. Morph. 144, 71–83 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Kemp, T. S. Mammal-like Reptiles and the Origin of Mammals (Academic, London, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Jenkins, F. A. Jr Am. J. Anat. 137, 281–298 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Maynard Smith, J. & Savage, R. J. G. J. Linn. Soc. 42, 603–622 (1956).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Jenkins, F. A. Jr Bull. Peabody Mus. nat. Hist. 36, 1–216 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Jenkins, F. A. Jr & Parrington, F. R. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B273, 387–431 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Jenkins, F. A. Jr Science 198, 1473–1475 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Pridmore, P. A. J. Zool. 205, 53–73 (1985).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. McKenna, M. C. Am. Mus. Novit. 2066, 1–27 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Henckel, S. & Krusat, G. Berliner geowiss. Abh. 20, 209–216 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Krause, D. & Jenkins, F. A. Jr Bull. Mus. comp. Zool. 150, 199–246 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Jenkins, F. A. Jr & Schaff, C. R. J. vert. Paleont. 8, 1–24 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Kielan-Jaworowska, Z. Acta palaeont. pol. 34, 75–85 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Krebs, B. Berliner geowiss. Abh. 133, 1–110 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kielan-Jaworowska, Z. & Gambaryan, P. P. Fossils Strata 36, 1–92 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Klima, M. Adv. Anat. Embryol. Cell Biol. 47, 1–80 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Klima, M. Adv. Anat. Embryol. Cell Biol. 109, 1–91 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kielan-Jaworowska, Z. Palaeont. pol. 30, 23–44 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Meng, J. & Miao, D. J. Vert. Paleont. (suppl.) 12, 43A (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Kielan-Jaworowska, Z. & Qi, T. Vert. PalAsiatica 28, 81–94 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Cheng, C.-C. J. Morph. 97, 415–471 (1955).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Wible, J. R. J. vert. Paleont. 10, 183–205 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Kielan-Jaworowska, Z. Hist Biol. 6, 185–202 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Rowe, T. in Mammal Phylogeny: Mesozoic Differentiation, Multituberculates, Monotremes, Early Therians, and Marsupials (eds Szalay, F. S., Novacek, M. J. & McKanna, M. C.) 129–145 (Springer, New York, 1993).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  26. Hahn, G. Palaeovertebrata 17, 155–196 (1987).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Archer, M., Murray, P., Hand, S. & Godthelp, H. in Mammal Phylogeny: Mesozoic Differentiation, Multituberculates, Monotremes, Early Therians, and Marsupials (eds Szalay, F. S., Novacek, M. J. & McKenna, M. C.) 75–94 (Springer, New York, 1993).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  28. Presley, R. Nature 294, 668–670 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. Miao, D. in Mammal Phylogeny: Mesozoic Differentiation, Multituberculates, Monotremes, Early Therians, and Marsupials (eds Szalay, F. S., Novacek, M. J. & McKenna, M. C.) 63–74 (Springer, New York, 1993).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  30. Sues, H. D. thesis. Harvard Univ. (1983).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, 1027 East 57th Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, USA

    Paul C. Sereno

  2. Department of Vertebrate Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, 10024, USA

    Malcolm C. McKenna

Authors
  1. Paul C. Sereno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Malcolm C. McKenna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sereno, P., McKenna, M. Cretaceous multituberculate skeleton and the early evolution of the mammalian shoulder girdle. Nature 377, 144–147 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/377144a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/377144a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing