# Adalatherium
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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adalatherium
> Source revision: 1354063825
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{{Short description|Extinct genus of mammals}}
{{Speciesbox
| fossil_range = [Late Cretaceous](/source/Late_Cretaceous) ([Maastrichtian](/source/Maastrichtian)) {{Fossil range|70|66}}
| image = Adalatherium skull.svg
| image_caption = Restoration of the skull in lateral view
| display_parents = 3
| grandparent_authority = [Krause](/source/David_W._Krause) ''et al'', 2020
| parent_authority = Krause ''et al'', 2020
| taxon = Adalatherium hui
| authority = Krause ''et al'', 2020
}}
'''''Adalatherium''''' ([''Adàla''](/source/wiktionary%3Aadala), 'crazy' in [Malagasy](/source/Malagasy_language) and ''therium'', 'beast' in [Greek](/source/Greek_language)) is an extinct [gondwanatheria](/source/gondwanatheria)n that lived in [Madagascar](/source/Madagascar) during the [Maastrichtian](/source/Maastrichtian) stage of the Late Cretaceous. The discovery of the first nearly-complete skeleton from the [Maevarano Formation](/source/Maevarano_Formation) was announced in April 2020.[{{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}}]
== 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}}[{{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}}] and the body mass is estimated between {{convert|1.775 - 5.218|kg|lb}}, making it one the largest known Mesozoic mammals.[{{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](/source/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 }}]
The teeth of ''Adalatherium'' had simple radial [enamel](/source/Enamel_of_teeth) with a schmelzmuster consisting of only one layer. The interprismatic matrix was anastomosing around the enamel prisms, which were small and not [decussating](/source/Decussation).[{{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](/source/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}}]
== Palaeoecology ==
Potential predators of ''Adalatherium'' included ''[Majungasaurus](/source/Majungasaurus)'', ''[Masiakasaurus](/source/Masiakasaurus)'', ''[Miadanasuchus](/source/Miadanasuchus)'', ''[Mahajangasuchus](/source/Mahajangasuchus)'', and ''[Madtsoia](/source/Madtsoia) madagascariensis''.[{{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 }}] In turn, it may have eaten [root](/source/root)s 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
{{cretaceous-mammal-stub}}
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Adalatherium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adalatherium) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adalatherium?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.