A Large Morganucodontan Mammaliaform from the Late Jurassic of Germany

Abstract

Abstract An upper “triconodont” molar from the Late Jurassic (late Kimmeridgian) of the Langenberg Quarry in northern Germany is attributed to Storchodon cingulatus gen. et sp. nov. of Morganucodonta. The molar is characterized by continuous lingual and buccal cingula, and a relatively large, buccally-shifted cusp D which is not integrated in the buccal cingulum. With a length of 3.07 mm, the tooth is less than 10 % smaller than the lower holotype molar of Paceyodon davidi , the largest known morganucodontan. The Langenberg morganucodontan possibly represents an example of insular gigantism on an adjacent paleoisland.