Nanocuris is an extinct genus of Deltatheridiidae from the Cretaceous of Canada (Saskatchewan) and United States (Wyoming - Lance Formation and Hell Creek Formation[1]).[2] Initially, it was classified in a proper family, Nanocuridae, in the clade Eutheria,[2] but a reanalysis of a new specimen revealed a delthatheroid affinity of the genus.[3]
| Nanocuris Temporal range: Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Deltatheroida |
| Family: | †Deltatheridiidae |
| Genus: | †Nanocuris Fox, Scott & Bryant, 2007 |
| Species: | †N. improvida
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| Binomial name | |
| †Nanocuris improvida Fox, Scott & Bryant, 2007
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Size edit
It was the proportionally largest deltatheroidean.[4][5] Alongside the similarly sized Didelphodon, it likely replaced earlier Cretaceous eutriconodonts as a large sized predatory mammal.[6]
Classification edit
Ironically, it's closest relative is the smallest deltatheroidean, Gurbanodelta.[7]
References edit
- ^ G. P. Wilson and J. A. Riedel. 2010. New specimen reveals deltatheroidan affinities of the North American Late Cretaceous mammal Nanocuris. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(3):872-884
- ^ a b R. C. Fox, C. S. Scott, and H. N. Bryant. 2007. A new, unusual therian mammal from the Upper Cretaceous of Saskatchewan, Canada. Cretaceous Research 28(5):821-829.
- ^ G. P. Wilson and J. A. Riedel. 2010. New specimen reveals deltatheroidan affinities of the North American Late Cretaceous mammal Nanocuris. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(3):872-884
- ^ G. W. Rougier, B. M. Davis, and M. J. Novacek. 2015. A deltatheroidan mammal from the Upper Cretaceous Baynshiree Formation, eastern Mongolia. Cretaceous Research 52:167-177
- ^ G. P. Wilson and J. A. Riedel. 2010. New specimen reveals deltatheroidan affinities of the North American Late Cretaceous mammal Nanocuris. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(3):872-884
- ^ G. W. Rougier, B. M. Davis, and M. J. Novacek. 2015. A deltatheroidan mammal from the Upper Cretaceous Baynshiree Formation, eastern Mongolia. Cretaceous Research 52:167-177
- ^ Ni, Xijun; Li, Qiang; Stidham, Thomas A.; Li, Lüzhou; Lu, Xiaoyu; Meng, Jin (2016). "A late Paleocene probable metatherian (?deltatheroidan) survivor of the Cretaceous mass extinction". Science Reports. 6. Springer Science and Business Media LLC: 38547. Bibcode:2016NatSR...638547N. doi:10.1038/srep38547. PMC 5141426. PMID 27924847.
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