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Yeutherium

Yeutherium
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous,
~72–66 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Clade: Meridiolestida
Clade: Mesungulatoidea
Family: Reigitheriidae
Genus: Yeutherium
Püschel et al., 2025
Species:
Y. pressor
Binomial name
Yeutherium pressor
Püschel et al., 2025

Yeutherium is an extinct genus of mammal from the Reigitheriidae that lived during the Late Cretaceous (Late Campanian-Maastrichtian). Its fossils have been found in the Dorotea Formation in Chile and the type species is Y. pressor.[1]

Discovery and naming

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The holotype was discovered in the Dorotea Formation in Chile and it consists of a partial maxilla with an associated molar.

Yeutherium pressor was named and described by Püschel et al. (2025).[1]

Description

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Yeutherium was estimated to weigh around 30 ounces (850 g) when fully grown.[2] Its dentition was also specialised towards crushing food.[1]

Classification

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Yeutherium was also found to be close to Reigitherium, and it was subsequently placed into Reigitheriidae as only the second genus in the family.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Püschel, H. P.; Martinelli, A. G.; Soto-Acuña, S.; Ortiz, H.; Leppe, M.; Vargas, A. O. (2025). "A subantarctic reigitheriid and the evolution of crushing teeth in these enigmatic Mesozoic mammals". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 292 (2052). 20251056. doi:10.1098/rspb.2025.1056. PMC 12324878. PMID 40763811.
  2. ^ Tiwari, Vaibhav (12 August 2025). "What is Yeutherium Pressor? 74-million-year-old fossil reveals secrets of a rodent-like mammal". Wio News. Retrieved 12 August 2025.