New Species of Ancient Mammals Found in Yakutia by Paleontologists

Художественная реконструкция представителя эухарамийид. Рисунок: Чжао Чуан (Zhao Chuang). С сайта paleo.ru
Художественная реконструкция представителя эухарамийид. Рисунок: Чжао Чуан (Zhao Chuang). С сайта paleo.ru

Researchers from Russia and Germany, studying the vertebrates of the beginning of the Cretaceous Period from the Teete locality in southwestern Yakutia, described cryoharamia (Cryoharamia tarda) –  a new genus and species of mammals from the Mesozoic group of the Euharamiyidae. The article about the discovery is published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Cryoharamia (Cryoharamia tarda) was a small herbivorous animal, outwardly similar to rodents. It had the patagium, and could fly from tree to tree.

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Зуб Cryoharamia tarda. Рисунок из опубликованной статьи. С сайта paleo.ru
Зуб Cryoharamia tarda. Рисунок из опубликованной статьи. С сайта paleo.ru

The researchers were able to describe the animal by analyzing the imprints of the skeleton bones of cryoharamia and the body contours of other members of the group. In addition, the scientists have gotten the information from the upper molar found by them that is little over two millimeters long. In its proportions, the tooth resembles the teeth of the Arboroharamiyidae, and in the structure of the tubercles it resembles the teeth of animals of the Shenshouidae group. Thus, the systematic position of a new genus is still being clarified.

Cryoharamia is the latest representative of its group. Hence the species name, in Latin "tarda" means “late”. This fact confirms the hypothesis that, due to climate conditions and location, Siberia in the Early Cretaceous era became a refuge for the last representatives of many ancient vertebrate groups who were able to survive here the boundary of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Scientists suggest that there was a temperate climate with an average annual temperature well above zero, but below 14 ° C.