Buxolestes

Buxolestes Temporal range: Middle Eocene ~48–40 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Buxolestes minor from Messel Pit Fossil Site at the Naturmuseum Senckenberg
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	†Cimolesta
Family:	†Pantolestidae
Subfamily:	†Pantolestinae
Genus:	†Buxolestes Jaeger, 1970

Buxolestes is an extinct genus of semi-aquatic, non-placental eutherian mammals belonging to the family Pantolestidae. Species in this genus were part of the first placental evolutionary radiation during the Middle Eocene (48-40 mya) and found in the Bracklesham Group and Wittering Formation of England, at the Messel Pit in Germany and in Bouxwiller, France.

Description

Buxolestes were otter-like freshwater fish predators with a body length reaching about 46 centimetres (18 in) and a tail about 35 centimetres (14 in) long. They were significantly smaller than most living species of otters. Fossilized stomach contents confirm their semiaquatic freshwater habits. The anatomy of these archaic "insectivorous" mammals is known through well-preserved Middle Eocene specimens found at Messel in Germany. Their structure evidences a clear adaptation to a semiaquatic way of life. The forelimbs and hindlimbs are powerful and show strong claws. The tail is clearly fit for swimming. The skull is long, with large molars that appear to be adapted to a diet of molluscs with shells (freshwater clams and freshwater snails), but the predilection postulated from the dentition has not been confirmed.

Species

• Buxolestes minor Pfretzschner, 1999
• Buxolestes piscator Koenigswald, 1980

References

External links

• The Paleobiology Database
• Global Names
• Paleocene mammals
• Pantolestidae

• v
• t
• e

Eutheria

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Subclass: Theria
Synapsida see Synapsida Cynodontia see Cynodontia Mammalia see Mammalia Eutheria see below↓ Eutheria

Eutheria	†Acristatherium? †Ambolestes? †Bobolestes? †Cokotherium? †Durlstodon †Durlstotherium †Endotherium †Eomaia? †Hovurlestes †Hyotheridium? †Indoclemensia †Juramaia? †Montanalestes? †Murtoilestes? †Prokennalestes? †Sinodelphys? †Adapisoriculidae Adapisoriculus Afrodon Bustylus Deccanolestes? Garatherium Namibiodon Remiculus? Sahnitherium? Wyonycteris? †Asioryctitheria Asioryctes Bulaklestes Daulestes Kennalestes Sasayamamylos Uchkudukodon Ukhaatherium †Cimolestidae Acmeodon Alveugena Ambilestes Avunculus Bagalestes Batodon? Betonnia Chacopterygus Cimolestes Didelphodus Gelastops Ilerdoryctes Maelestes? Paleotomus Procerberus Protentomodon Puercolestes Scollardius †Didymoconidae Archaeoryctes Ardynictis Didymoconus Hunanictis Kennatherium Zeuctherium †Horolodectidae Ferrequitherium Horolodectes †Leptictida Gypsonictops Pseudorhyncocyonidae Diaphyodectes Leptictidium Phakodon Pseudorhyncocyon Leptictidae Amphigyion Blacktops Gallolestes Ictopidium Labes Lainodon Leptictis Leptonysson Megaleptictis Myrmecoboides Ongghonia Palaeictops Praolestes Prodiacodon Protictops Wania †Palaeoryctidae Aaptoryctes Aboletylestes Eoryctes Lainoryctes Naranius Nuryctes Ottoryctes Palaeoryctes Pararyctes Pinoryctes Tsaganius †Pantolesta Paroxyclaenidae Dulcidon Euhookeria Fratrodon Kiinkerishella Kopidodon Merialus Paraspaniella Paroxyclaenus Pugiodens Sororodon Spaniella Vulpavoides Pantolestidae Amaramnis Aphronorus Bessoecetor Bisonalveus Bogdia Bouffinomus Buxolestes Chadronia Coriphagus Cryptopithecus Dyspterna Galethylax Gobipithecus Kochictis Oboia Pagonomus Palaeosinopa Pantolestes Pentacodon Thelysia Todralestes †Taeniodonta Alveugena Onychodectes Schowalteria Conoryctidae Conoryctella Conoryctes Huerfanodon Stylinodontidae Chungchienia Ectoganus Psittacotherium Stylinodon Wortmania †Tillodontia Adapidium Azygonyx Basalina Benaius Dysnoetodon Esthonyx Franchaius Higotherium Interogale Kuanchuanius Lofochaius Megalesthonyx Meiostylodon Plesiesthonyx Plethorodon Simplodon Tillodon Trogosus Yuesthonyx †Zalambdalestidae Alymlestes Anchilestes Barunlestes Beleutinus Kulbeckia Zalambdalestes Zhangolestes Zofialestes †Zhelestidae Alostera? Aspanlestes Avitotherium Azilestes? Borisodon Eoungulatum Eozhelestes Gallolestes Kharmerungulatum Khuduklestes? Lainodon Mistralestes? Oxlestes? Paranyctoides? Parazhelestes Sheikhdzheilia Sorlestes Valentinella? Zhalmousia Zhelestes †Pantodonta see Pantodonta Placentalia Afrotheria Boreoeutheria Xenarthra