Planetetherium
{{Short description|Extinct genus of mammals}}
{{Speciesbox
| fossil_range = {{fossilrange|56.8|55.4}}
| parent_authority = Simpson, 1928
| taxon = Planetetherium mirabile
| authority = Simpson, 1928
}}
Planetetherium is an extinct genus of herbivorous gliding mammal endemic to North America during the Paleogene living from 56.8 to 55.4 mya, existing for approximately {{Mya|56.8-55.4|million years}}.[https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=40327 PaleoBiology Database: Planetetherium, basic info]
Fossils have been discovered in strata formed from ancient cypress forests, suggesting that this was the animal's preferred habitat.
Morphology
Plantetherium is estimated to reach around {{convert|25|cm|in|sigfig=1}} in length, and its known materials closely resembled that of its modern relatives. Its teeth already included the comb-like structure distinctive to modern colugos. Since no postcranial materials have been described for any plagiomenid,{{Citation |last=Rose |first=Kenneth D. |title=Plagiomenidae and Mixodectidae |date=2008-01-01 |work=Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America: Volume 2: Small Mammals, Xenarthrans, and Marine Mammals |pages=198–206 |url=https://pure.johnshopkins.edu/en/publications/plagiomenidae-and-mixodectidae-4 |access-date=2025-02-24 |publisher=Cambridge University Press}} there is no direct evidence that Planetetherium had the membrane of skin that allows modern colugos to glide, but this was likely the case.{{cite book |editor=Palmer, D.|year=1999 |title= The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals|publisher= Marshall Editions|location=London|page= 210|isbn= 1-84028-152-9}}
References
{{Portal|Paleontology}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Euarchontoglires|E.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q675829}}
Category:Prehistoric placental genera
Category:Paleocene mammals of North America
Category:Fossil taxa described in 1928
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