Platygonus: Research Database
Theropoda · Cretaceous · Unknown
Research Note: Platygonus was a theropoda from the Cretaceous of Unknown, providing important data on prehistoric life and ecosystem dynamics.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Guilday Hamilton McCrady 1971: Platygonus and related taxa Annals of the Carnegie Museum | Confirmed | B | 1971 | Fossil | Guilday Hamilton McCrady, Annals of the Carnegie Museum | Taxonomy |
Slaughter 1966: Platygonus and related taxa American Midland Naturalist | Confirmed | B | 1966 | Fossil | Slaughter, American Midland Naturalist | Taxonomy |
What We Still Do Not Know About Platygonus
- Complete skeletal morphology and ecological role.
- Phylogenetic relationships within Theropoda.
- Distribution and evolutionary history.
In Depth
Platygonus is an extinct genus of peccary, a kind of artiodactyl mammal that is similar to a pig in physical appearance and ecological niche, yet is of a completely separate family. With larger Platygonus approaching one meter in length, they were quite a bit larger than modern peccaries. Platygonus may have been hunted by wolves and machairodont sabre-toothed cats such as Smilodon and Xenosmilus.
Further Reading
- Estimating the body mass of extinct ungulates: a study on the use of multiple regression - Journal of Zoology 270 (1): 90–101. - M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis & P. Palmqvist - 2006.
