Abstract
Haramiyida was a successful clade of mammaliaforms, spanning the Late Triassic period to at least the Late Jurassic period, but their fossils are scant outside Eurasia and Cretaceous records are controversial1,2,3,4. Here we report, to our knowledge, the first cranium of a large haramiyidan from the basal Cretaceous of North America. This cranium possesses an amalgam of stem mammaliaform plesiomorphies and crown mammalian apomorphies. Moreover, it shows dental traits that are diagnostic of isolated teeth of supposed multituberculate affinities from the Cretaceous of Morocco, which have been assigned to the enigmatic ‘Hahnodontidae’. Exceptional preservation of this specimen also provides insights into the evolution of the ancestral mammalian brain. We demonstrate the haramiyidan affinities of Gondwanan hahnodontid teeth, removing them from multituberculates, and suggest that hahnodontid mammaliaforms had a much wider, possibly Pangaean distribution during the Jurassic–Cretaceous transition.
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Change history
14 August 2018
The asterisked footnote to Extended Data Table 1 should state ‘*Including Thomasia and Haramiyavia’. This has been corrected online.
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Acknowledgements
We thank R. Irmis, C. Levitt-Bussian and the Natural History Museum of Utah (UMNH); Utah Geological Survey, which funded the excavation and preparation of the specimen; A. R. C. Milner who discovered Andrew’s Site (UMNH 1207); Utah Friends of Paleontology and volunteers who helped with excavation; Bureau of Land Management for permission (BLM permit #UTEX-05-031) and site supervision in 2005 under J. Cavin; J. Cavin for initial preparation and S. Madsen for final preparation of the specimen; T. Martin for the Paulchoffatia jaw from the Guimarota Mammals Collection (GUI MAM) illustrated in Fig. 2c; E. Hsu, S. Merchant and University of Utah Small Animal Imaging facility, Salt Lake City, for high-resolution X-ray computed tomography scanning; J. Lungmus and A. Neander for additional scanning at the University of Chicago PaleoCT; E. Seiffert (USC) for helpful comments. The specimen is housed at UMNH, Salt Lake City.
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Nature thanks S. Hoffmann and T. Martin for their contribution to the peer review of this work.
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J.I.K. conducted fieldwork and oversaw laboratory preparation of the specimen; A.K.H., Z.-X.L. and J.A.S. scanned the specimen using computed tomography; A.K.H. analysed the data and conducted the computed tomography reconstructions; A.K.H. illustrated the specimen, and A.K.H. and Z.-X.L. composed the figures; A.K.H., D.M.G. and Z.-X.L. conducted the phylogenetic analysis; and A.K.H., D.M.G., J.I.K., J.A.S. and Z.-X.L. wrote the manuscript.
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Extended data figures and tables
Extended Data Fig. 1 Stratigraphic section through Andrew’s Site and quarry map.
a, Revised type section of the Yellow Cat Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation showing the stratigraphic position of Andrew’s Site (UMNH 1207). Modified from McDonald et al.15. b, Quarry map of Andrew’s Site. The position of the mammaliaform skull UMNH VP 16771 is indicated in red.
Extended Data Fig. 2 Skull and interpretive drawings of C. wahkarmoosuch UMNH VP 16771.
a, b, Specimen shown in dorsal (a) and ventral (b) views. Grey areas represent matrix infill, hatched areas represent crushed/desiccated bones, dashed lines represent cracks through the specimen. c, Stereopair of the left side of skull in ventral view to show broad, shallow squamosal glenoid. as, alisphenoid (epipterygoid); bs, basisphenoid; C, upper canine alveolus; e n, external naris; f, frontal; f alt, anterior lateral trough foramen (cavum epiptericum ventral opening); f i, incisive foramen; f l, lacrimal foramen; f m-pal, maxillopalatine foramen; f pl, perilymphatic groove/foramen; f pt-par, pterygoparoccipital foramen; g, squamosal glenoid; I3, second upper incisor alveolus; j, jugal; l, lacrimal; m, maxilla; n, nasal; o, occipital; p, parietal; pal, palatine; PC4, in situ posterior upper postcanine (molar); pe, petrosal; pm, premaxilla; pt, pterygoid; sq, squamosal; v, vomer.
Extended Data Fig. 3 Skull and interpretive drawings of C. wahkarmoosuch UMNH VP 16771 (continued).
Specimen shown in left lateral view. Grey areas represent matrix infill, dashed lines represent broken/reconstructed bones. f in, infraorbital foramen; f v, lateral external vascular foramen; os, orbitosphenoid; t, tabular.
Extended Data Fig. 4 Cranial foramina and sinuses in the braincase of C. wahkarmoosuch.
a, Line drawing of the posterior skull in right oblique (anterolateral) view. b, Computed tomography transparency of the skull in left oblique view, showing the prootic sinus and associated branches of the stapedial artery (light green). d m, diploetica magna; r i, stapedial artery (ramus inferior); r s, stapedial artery (ramus superior); r t, ramus temporalis; V1, orbital vacuity (hypothesized exit for ophthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve); V3, foramen pseudovale (hypothesized exit for mandibular branch of trigeminal nerve).
Extended Data Fig. 5 Cranial vault and endocranial features of Cifelliodon.
a–c, Comparison of occiputs of the cynodont Thrinaxodon liorhinus (based in part on University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP) 40466) (a), C. wahkarmoosuch (b) and Vintana sertichi (based on figure 1 of Krause et al.18) (c). Shaded bones in b and c emphasize sutural union of postparietal and paroccipital process. Skulls are not shown to scale. d–h, Brain endocasts. Cifelliodon endocast shown in left lateral (d) and posterior oblique (e) views. Skull of Vintana in lateral view shown externally (f) and with endocranial features exposed (g) (modified from figure 1 of Hoffmann et al.36 flipped for comparison). Skull of Hadrocodium (h) shown as a representative plesiomorphic mammaliaform (modified from figure 1 of Rowe et al.22; flipped for comparison). Numbers represent characters and character states described in the Supplementary Information. cb, cerebellar hemisphere; eo, exoccipital; f j, cast of jugular foramen within perilymphatic fossa; nc, region of neocortex; ob, olfactory bulb; p pr, paroccipital process; pf, paraflocculus cast; pp, postparietal; so, supraoccipital; II, III, IV, V1, exit for anterior cranial nerves near sphenorbital fissure; V3, V2, roots of mandibular (and maxillary?) branch of trigeminal nerve; IX, X, roots of glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves.
Extended Data Fig. 6 Derived condition of Cifelliodon and other haramiyidans in root morphology and root implant of upper teeth, in contrast to the primitive condition of mammaliaforms.
a, C. wahkarmoosuch (UMNH VP16771): procumbent implant of incisor roots. b, The Madagascar mammaliaform Vintana with procumbent incisor roots (based on figure 2 of Krause et al.18). c, Haramiyavia: the first three incisors are procumbent with elongate and procumbent roots (top-labial view, left–right flipped left premaxillary with in situ incisors; bottom-lingual view of left incisors; based on supplementary figure 1 of Luo et al.4). d, Morganucodon oehleri (type specimen, photograph was made by Z.-X.L.): all upper teeth (including incisors) are vertical. e, Haldanodon exspectatus: upper teeth are all vertical, orientation of incisors shown by their vertical alveoli (resegmented from the previously published dataset37). The typical condition for implant of upper teeth is vertical for most mammaliaforms. By comparison the primitive condition of most mammaliaforms, the procumbent incisor implant is a derived condition for haramiyidans, either on all of the incisors (Cifelliodon and Vintana) or on anterior incisors (Haramiyavia).
Extended Data Fig. 7 Derived condition of Cifelliodon and other haramiyidans in orientation and implant of incisor and postcanine roots, in contrast to the typical condition of multituberculates (in labial or lingual views).
a, C. wahkarmoosuch (UMNH VP16771): procumbent implant of incisor roots. b, V. sertichi with procumbent (hypertrophied) incisor roots (based on figure 2 of Krause et al.18). c, Haramiyavia: the first three incisors are procumbent with elongate and procumbent roots (top-labial view, left–right flipped left premaxillary with in situ incisors; bottom-lingual view of left incisors; based on supplementary figure 1 of Luo et al.4). d, Henkelodon naias (Paulchoffatiidae, Multituberculata: GUI-MAM-28-74). e, Kuehneodon dryas (Paulchoffatiidae, Multituberculata: VJ400-155). f, Kuehneodon simpsoni (Paulchoffatiidae, Multituberculata; based on figure 12.5 from Hahn & Hahn38, reproduced with permission). g, Kryptobaatar dashzevegi (Djadochtatheria; Multituberculata; image from http://digimorph.org/). The procumbent orientation and tooth implant of incisors is a derived condition of haramiyidans (including Cifelliodon), in contrast to the vertically implanted incisors and postcanines of most Mesozoic multituberculates, including basal paulchoffatiids, plagiaulacids and djadochtatherians. The vertical implant of incisors in multituberculate condition is plesiomorphic, as it is also shared by other stem mammaliaforms.
Extended Data Fig. 8 Derived condition of Cifelliodon and other haramiyidan in orientation and implant of incisor roots, in contrast to the typical condition of other stem mammaliaforms and most multituberculates (palatal view).
a, C. wahkarmoosuch (UMNH VP16771): procumbent implant of incisor roots. b, V. sertichi with procumbent (hypertrophied) incisor roots (based on figure 2 of Krause et al.18). c, Haramiyavia: the first three incisors are procumbent with elongate and procumbent roots (ventral view of left incisors and premaxillary: left with premaxillary; right premaxillary rendered invisible: based on supplementary figure 1 of Luo et al.4). d, Morganucodon watsoni (based on figure 6 of Kermack et al.39). e, Haldanodon exspectatus: vertical orientation of incisors shown by their vertical alveoli (resegmented from the previously published dataset37). f, K. simpsoni (Paulchoffatiidae, Multituberculata) (adapted with permission from Kielan-Jaworowska et al.40). g, Paulchoffatia delgadoi (Paulchoffatiidae, Multituberculata) (adapted with permission from Kielan-Jaworowska et al.40). h, K. dryas (Paulchoffatiidae, Multituberculata) (adapted with permission from Kielan-Jaworowska et al.40). i, Sloanbaatar mirabilis (Djadochtatheria, Multituberculata) (adapted with permission from Kielan-Jaworowska et al.40). j, Kamptobaatar kuczynskii (Djadochtatheria, Multituberculata) (adapted with permission from Kielan-Jaworowska et al.40). k, Ptilodus montanus (adapted with permission from Kielan-Jaworowska et al.40). l, Taeniolabis taoensis (adapted with permission from Kielan-Jaworowska et al.40). The procumbent implant of upper incisors is a derived condition for haramiyidans, either on all of the incisors (Cifelliodon and Vintana) or on anterior incisors (Haramiyavia). By comparison, the plesiomorphic condition of incisor implantation is vertical for most stem mammaliaforms (for example, Morganucodon and Haldanodon). All Mesozoic multituberculates have vertical implant of upper incisors, including basal-most paulchoffatiids that are preserved with upper incisors, plagiaulacids and djadochtatherians. However, the Cenozoic ptilodontid and taeniolabidid multituberculates show procumbent incisors. Because Mesozoic multituberculates have vertical implantation of incisors, the procumbent incisors of ptilodontids and taeniolabidids are interpreted to be secondarily derived and convergent (k, l).
Extended Data Fig. 9 Phylogenetic results.
a, Consensus cladogram from Bayesian analysis in MrBayes 3.231. Branches are not drawn proportional to lengths. Clade support values shown at the nodes are Bayesian posterior probabilities (0.50–1.0). b, Strict consensus of 1,920 equally parsimonious trees (tree score = 2,776 steps; consistency index = 0.317; retention index = 0.795) from the parsimony analysis in TNT 1.135. Values at nodes are bootstrap values above 50% (first number (before the solidus)) and Bremer indices (second number (after the solidus)).
Supplementary information
Supplementary Information
This file contains the Supplementary Materials and Methods parts A-G.
Video 1:
3D yaw of cranium of Cifelliodon (UMNH VP 16771).
Video 2:
3D roll of cranium of Cifelliodon (UMNH VP 16771).
Video 3:
3D roll of dentition of Cifelliodon (UMNH VP 16771).
Video 4:
3D roll of brain endocast of Cifelliodon (UMNH VP 16771).
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Huttenlocker, A.K., Grossnickle, D.M., Kirkland, J.I. et al. Late-surviving stem mammal links the lowermost Cretaceous of North America and Gondwana. Nature 558, 108–112 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0126-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0126-y
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