Didelphodon
Encyclopedia
Didelphodon is a genus of stagodont marsupial
s from the Late Cretaceous
of North America
. Three species are known: Didelphodon vorax, D. padanicus, and D. coyi. Although perhaps little larger than a Virginia Opossum
, it was one of the largest mammals of the Mesozoic
. The teeth have specialized bladelike cusps and carnassial notches, indicating that the animal was a predator; the jaws are short and massive and bear enormous, bulbous premolar teeth which appear to have been used for crushing. Heavy wear on the teeth suggests a highly specialized diet. Didelphodon is known from the Hell Creek Formation
of Montana, the Lance Formation
of Wyoming, and the Scollard Formation
of Alberta, where it is one of the most abundant mammals. The genus appears to descend from the Campanian Eodelphis
, and in particular appears to be related to Eodelphis cutleri.
.
of its time may have driven it underground, like a badger. Its build would certainly sustain such an existence.
and Prehistoric Planet
.
In Walking with Dinosaurs
, one was eaten by an angry Tyrannosaurus
while raiding a nest, and two later fought over a tyrannosaur egg from the same nest. One was also shown feasting on the remains of a young Torosaurus
, highlighting how the mammals continue to thrive while the dinosaurs face their demise.
Marsupial
Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, with the remaining 100 found in the Americas, primarily in South America, but with thirteen in Central...
s from the Late Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Three species are known: Didelphodon vorax, D. padanicus, and D. coyi. Although perhaps little larger than a Virginia Opossum
Virginia Opossum
The Virginia opossum , commonly known as the North American opossum or tlacuache in Mexico, is the only marsupial found in North America north of Mexico. A solitary and nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat, and thus the largest opossum, it is a successful opportunist...
, it was one of the largest mammals of the Mesozoic
Mesozoic
The Mesozoic era is an interval of geological time from about 250 million years ago to about 65 million years ago. It is often referred to as the age of reptiles because reptiles, namely dinosaurs, were the dominant terrestrial and marine vertebrates of the time...
. The teeth have specialized bladelike cusps and carnassial notches, indicating that the animal was a predator; the jaws are short and massive and bear enormous, bulbous premolar teeth which appear to have been used for crushing. Heavy wear on the teeth suggests a highly specialized diet. Didelphodon is known from the Hell Creek Formation
Hell Creek Formation
The Hell Creek Formation is an intensely-studied division of Upper Cretaceous to lower Paleocene rocks in North America, named for exposures studied along Hell Creek, near Jordan, Montana...
of Montana, the Lance Formation
Lance Formation
The Lance Formation is a division of Late Cretaceous rocks in the western United States. Named after Lance Creek, Wyoming, the microvertebrate fossils and dinosaurs represent important components of the latest Mesozoic vertebrate faunas...
of Wyoming, and the Scollard Formation
Scollard Formation
-References:* Ryan, M. J., and Russell, A. P., 2001. Dinosaurs of Alberta : In: Mesozoic Vertebrate Life, edited by Tanke, D. H., and Carpenter, K., Indiana University Press, pp. 279-297....
of Alberta, where it is one of the most abundant mammals. The genus appears to descend from the Campanian Eodelphis
Eodelphis
Eodelphis meaning "early opossum" is a genus of stagodont marsupials from the Late Cretaceous of North America, with distinctive crushing dentition. Named species include E. browni and the more advanced E. cutleri...
, and in particular appears to be related to Eodelphis cutleri.
Discovery
Didelphodon was discovered by Barry Brown in 2001, Harding County, South DakotaSouth Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
.
Paleobiology
Fossil evidence suggests Didelphodon was a small predator, perhaps filling the niche that foxes do today. The other predatorsTyrannosaurus
Tyrannosaurus meaning "tyrant," and sauros meaning "lizard") is a genus of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaur. The species Tyrannosaurus rex , commonly abbreviated to T. rex, is a fixture in popular culture. It lived throughout what is now western North America, with a much wider range than other...
of its time may have driven it underground, like a badger. Its build would certainly sustain such an existence.
In popular culture
Didelphodon was featured in a minor role in Walking with DinosaursWalking with Dinosaurs
Walking with Dinosaurs is a six-part documentary television miniseries that was produced by BBC, narrated by Kenneth Branagh, and first aired in the United Kingdom, in 1999. The series was subsequently aired in North America on the Discovery Channel in 2000, with Branagh's voice replaced with that...
and Prehistoric Planet
Prehistoric Planet
Prehistoric Planet is a re-version of the BBC's Walking with Dinosaurs and Walking with Beasts series, done by Discovery Channel and NBC for the Discovery Kids network...
.
In Walking with Dinosaurs
Walking with Dinosaurs
Walking with Dinosaurs is a six-part documentary television miniseries that was produced by BBC, narrated by Kenneth Branagh, and first aired in the United Kingdom, in 1999. The series was subsequently aired in North America on the Discovery Channel in 2000, with Branagh's voice replaced with that...
, one was eaten by an angry Tyrannosaurus
Tyrannosaurus
Tyrannosaurus meaning "tyrant," and sauros meaning "lizard") is a genus of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaur. The species Tyrannosaurus rex , commonly abbreviated to T. rex, is a fixture in popular culture. It lived throughout what is now western North America, with a much wider range than other...
while raiding a nest, and two later fought over a tyrannosaur egg from the same nest. One was also shown feasting on the remains of a young Torosaurus
Torosaurus
Torosaurus is a genus of ceratopsid dinosaur that lived during the late Cretaceous period , between 70 and 65 million years ago. It possessed one of the largest skulls of any known land animal. The frilled skull reached in length...
, highlighting how the mammals continue to thrive while the dinosaurs face their demise.