Microtitan
Microtitan is a genus of brontothere from the Irdin Manha formation.[1]
| Microtitan Temporal range: Middle Eocene
| |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Perissodactyla |
| Family: | †Brontotheriidae |
| Genus: | †Microtitan |
| Species: | †M. mongoliensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Microtitan mongoliensis Granger and Gregory, 1943
| |
Description
Microtitan is small compared to other contemporary brontotheres, being similar in size to Metarhinus. The premolars of Microtitan are compressed, while the molars are elongated.[2] The genus is almost entirely known from the cheek teeth, as well as mandibular and maxillary remains.[3][4] There is no indication of the specialization of the rostrum as seen in Dolichorhinus or Metarhinus. The upper canines of Microtitan are moderately sized.[5]
Classification
The fragmentary nature of Microtitan has caused it to have a convoluted classification history. The holotype specimen of the genus, AMNH 20167, (ascribed to the species M. mongoliensis) has been considered a composite specimen (meaning material came from multiple individuals) and not fitting to be a diagnostic specimen. A neotype, AMNH 22099, is currently ascribed to the species by Granger and Gregory (1943).[2][5] Other species assigned to the genus have been considered dubious.[5][3]
Currently the genus is grouped within the subfamily Brontotheriinae, close to Metarhinus.[5]
References
- ^ "Mindat.org". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
- ^ a b Granger, Walter; Gregory, William K. "A revision of the Mongolian titanotheres. Bulletin of the AMNH ; v. 80, article 10". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
- ^ a b Bai, Bin; Wang, Yuan-Qing; Li, Qian; Wang, Hai-Bing; Mao, Fang-Yuan; Gong, Yan-Xin; Meng, Jin. "Biostratigraphy and Diversity of Paleogene Perissodactyls from the Erlian Basin of Inner Mongolia, China". American Museum Novitates. doi:10.1206/3914.1.full.
- ^ Mihlbachler, Matthew C.; Lucas, Spencer G.; Emry, Robert J.; Bayshashov, Bolat. "A New Brontothere (Brontotheriidae, Perissodactyla, Mammalia) from the Eocene of the Ily Basin of Kazakstan and a Phylogeny of Asian "Horned" Brontotheres". American Museum Novitates. doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2004)439%3C0001:ANBBPM%3E2.0.CO;2.full.
- ^ a b c d Mihlbachler, Matthew C. "Species Taxonomy, Phylogeny, and Biogeography of the Brontotheriidae (Mammalia: Perissodactyla)". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.1206/0003-0090(2008)501[1:STPABO]2.0.CO;2.full.