{{Short description|Extinct genus of mammals}} {{Speciesbox | fossil_range = Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) {{Fossil range|70|66}} | image = Adalatherium skull.svg | image_caption = Restoration of the skull in lateral view | display_parents = 3 | grandparent_authority = Krause ''et al'', 2020 | parent_authority = Krause ''et al'', 2020 | taxon = Adalatherium hui | authority = Krause ''et al'', 2020 }}
'''''Adalatherium''''' (''Adàla'', 'crazy' in Malagasy and ''therium'', 'beast' in Greek) is an extinct gondwanatherian that lived in Madagascar during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous. The discovery of the first nearly-complete skeleton from the Maevarano Formation was announced in April 2020.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last1=Krause |first1=David W. |last2=Hoffmann |first2=Simone |last3=Hu |first3=Yaoming |last4=Wible |first4=John R. |last5=Rougier |first5=Guillermo W. |last6=Kirk |first6=E. Christopher |last7=Groenke |first7=Joseph R. |last8=Rogers |first8=Raymond R. |last9=Rossie |first9=James B. |last10=Schultz |first10=Julia A. |last11=Evans |first11=Alistair R. |date=2020-04-29 |title=Skeleton of a Cretaceous mammal from Madagascar reflects long-term insularity |journal=Nature |volume=581 |issue=7809 |issn=1476-4687 |doi=10.1038/s41586-020-2234-8 |pages=421–427 |pmid=32461642 |s2cid=216650606 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2234-8}}</ref>
== Description == Although the only known fossil is believed to be from a subadult individual, it had a large skull reaching {{convert|8.4|cm|in}} long. Its body length was about {{convert|52|cm|in}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Madagascar's prehistoric 'crazy beast' sheds light on mammalian evolution |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/madagascar-adalatherium-hui-fossil-1673270-2020-05-01 |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=India Today |date=May 2020 |language=en}}</ref> and the body mass is estimated between {{convert|1.775 - 5.218|kg|lb}}, making it one the largest known Mesozoic mammals.<ref name=":0" /> It is depicted in reconstructions as being built somewhat like a badger. Its skeleton is the most complete of any Gondwanan Mesozoic mammal. Additionally, the front of the skull contains more foramina than any known mammal except ''Vincelestes''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Krause |first1=David W. |last2=Hoffmann |first2=Simone |last3=Rossie |first3=James B. |last4=Hu |first4=Yaoming |last5=Wible |first5=John R. |last6=Rougier |first6=Guillermo W. |last7=Kirk |first7=E. Christopher |last8=Groenke |first8=Joseph R. |date=2020-12-14 |title=Craniofacial morphology of Adalatherium hui (Mammalia, Gondwanatheria) from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2020.1808665 |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |language=en |volume=40 |issue=sup1 |pages=19–66 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2020.1808665 |s2cid=230968119 |issn=0272-4634|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
The teeth of ''Adalatherium'' had simple radial enamel with a schmelzmuster consisting of only one layer. The interprismatic matrix was anastomosing around the enamel prisms, which were small and not decussating.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Krause |first1=David W. |last2=Hu |first2=Yaoming |last3=Hoffmann |first3=Simone |last4=Groenke |first4=Joseph R. |last5=Schultz |first5=Julia A. |last6=Evans |first6=Alistair R. |last7=von Koenigswald |first7=Wighart |last8=Rougier |first8=Guillermo W. |date=14 December 2020 |title=Dental morphology of Adalatherium hui (Mammalia, Gondwanatheria) from the LATE Cretaceous of Madagascar |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2020.1811292#abstract |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |language=en |volume=40 |issue=sup1 |pages=97–132 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2020.1811292 |issn=0272-4634 |access-date=14 May 2026 |via=Taylor and Francis Online}}</ref>
== Palaeoecology == Potential predators of ''Adalatherium'' included ''Majungasaurus'', ''Masiakasaurus'', ''Miadanasuchus'', ''Mahajangasuchus'', and ''Madtsoia madagascariensis''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=‘Crazy Beast’: newly-identified prehistoric mammal has features never seen before |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/science/story/‘crazy-beast’:-newly-identified-prehistoric-mammal-has-features-never-seen-before|access-date=2020-04-29|website=cbsnews.com|date=April 29, 2020|language=en }}</ref> In turn, it may have eaten roots or other plant material.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Allotheria|A.}} {{Mesozoic Madagascar mammals nav}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q92503961}}
Category:Gondwanatheria Category:Late Cretaceous mammals Category:Maastrichtian life Category:Cretaceous Madagascar Category:Fossils of Madagascar Category:Maevarano fauna Category:Fossil taxa described in 2020 Category:Taxa named by David W. Krause Category:Taxa named by Simone Hoffmann Category:Taxa named by Yaoming Hu Category:Taxa named by John R. Wible Category:Taxa named by Guillermo W. Rougier Category:Taxa named by E. Christopher Kirk Category:Taxa named by Joseph R. Groenke Category:Taxa named by Raymond R. Rogers Category:Taxa named by James B. Rossie Category:Taxa named by Julia A. Schultz Category:Taxa named by Alistair R. Evans Category:Taxa named by Wighart von Koenigswald Category:Taxa named by Lydia J. Rahantarisoa
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