Bolodon

Bolodon is a genus of extinct mammal from the Lower Cretaceous of Europe, and possibly the Upper Jurassic of North America. It was a member of the extinct order of Multituberculata and lived at the same time as dinosaurs. It is placed in the suborder Plagiaulacida and family Plagiaulacidae.

The genus Bolodon was named by Owen R. in 1871. Material has also been reported from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of North America. Some authors ascribe this genus to its own family, Bolodontidae.

The species Bolodon crassidens is known from fossils of the Lower Cretaceous of England, in Durlston Bay, Dorset. Possible specimines also come from Spain.

The species Bolodon elongatus is very possibly not part of the genus: "?new genus to be erected for Bolodon elongatus," (Kielan-Jaworowska & Hurum, 2001, p. 414).

Differs from “Bolodon” in having P1–P3 with prominent posterior cingulum and P1 of subequal size with P2 rather than distinctly smaller.

— Kielan-Jaworowska, Cifelli, & Luo (2004)., "Mammals from the age of dinosaurs : origins, evolution, and structure" p. 315

Fossils of the species Bolodon minor, aka. Plioprion minor, have been found in the Lower Cretaceous of Durlston Bay, Dorset. Plioprion (Cope, 1884) is probably synonymous with Bolodon.

The species Bolodon osborni was named by Simpson G.G. in 1928. Fossils have been found in the Berriasian (Lower Cretaceous) of Durlston Bay, Dorset.

References

• Kielan-Jaworowska Z & Hurum JH (2001), Phylogeny and Systematics of multituberculate mammals. Paleontology 44, p. 389-429.
• This information has been derived from MESOZOIC MAMMALS; Plagiaulacidae, Albionbaataridae, Eobaataridae & Arginbaataridae, an Internet directory.
• Simpson (1928), A catalogue of the Mesozoic Mammalia in the Geological Department of the British Museum. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.), London, 215pp.