Argyrolagus

Argyrolagus; Temporal range: Early Pliocene (Montehermosan-Chapadmalalan); ~5.3–3.6 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
	Argyrolagus palmeri
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	†Polydolopimorphia
Suborder:	†Bonapartheriiformes
Family:	†Argyrolagidae
Genus:	†Argyrolagus; Ameghino 1904
Type species
	†Argyrolagus palmeri;

Argyrolagus is an extinct genus of South American metatherian, belonging to the order Polydolopimorpha from the Early Pliocene Monte Hermoso Formation, Patagonia, Argentina.^[1]

Description

Jumping on its hind legs, the 15–20-centimetre (5.9–7.9 in) long (without tail)^[2] Argyrolagus resembled a gerbil or kultarr. It had a long tail for balance, and a narrow head with a pointed snout. Judging from its huge eyes, Argyrolagus was nocturnal. The form of its teeth suggest that it would have fed on desert plants.^[3] A 2019 study confirmed that Argyrolagus was probably adapted for bipedal jumping and was probably also well adapted for digging.^[4]

References

^ Argyrolagus at Fossilworks.org
^ 新版絶滅哺乳類図鑑. Yukimitsu Tomida. 30 January 2011.
^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 203. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
^ Abello, María Alejandra; Candela, Adriana Magdalena (2020). "Paleobiology of Argyrolagus (Marsupialia, Argyrolagidae): an astonishing case of bipedalism among South American mammals". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 27 (3): 419–444. doi:10.1007/s10914-019-09470-z. S2CID 254693227.