Origolestes

Origolestes
Temporal range:
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: †Symmetrodonta
Family: †Zhangheotheriidae
Genus: †Origolestes
Species:
†O. lii
Binomial name
†Origolestes lii
Mao et al., 2019

Origolestes is an extinct monotypic genus of stem group therian that lived in East Asia during the Aptian stage of the Early Cretaceous epoch.[1]

Palaeobiology

Social behaviour

Six individuals of Origolestes lii have been found together, likely the result of all being buried simultaneously as they slept huddled together.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Origolestes". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  2. ↑ Mao, Fangyuan; Hu, Yaoming; Li, Chuankui; Wang, Yuanqing; Chase, Morgan Hill; Smith, Andrew K.; Meng, Jin (5 December 2019). "Integrated hearing and chewing modules decoupled in a Cretaceous stem therian mammal". Science. 367 (6475): 305–308. doi:10.1126/science.aay9220. ISSN 0036-8075. Retrieved 26 June 2026 – via Science.