Datamuodon
Datamuodon is a genus of extinct mammaliform from the Early Cretaceous of Asia. The name combines data- with the Greek odous (tooth), referring to its highly specialized dental pattern. The genus is monotypic, containing the species Datamuodon dataensis.
Discovery and naming: Fossils were recovered from the Datamu Formation in northern China in the late 1990s
Description: Datamuodon dataensis is a small to medium-sized multituberculate mammaliform with an elongated snout and a
Taxonomy: Class Mammaliaformes; Order Multituberculata; Family Datamuodontidae (monotypic). The placement within multituberculates is based on dental
Paleobiology and paleoecology: Likely herbivorous or omnivorous; the dental cusps indicate grinding capabilities suitable for plant
Significance: Datamuodon provides evidence for early diversification of multituberculates in Asia and contributes to understanding geographic