Archaeoparadoxia
| Archaeoparadoxia Temporal range:
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| Holotype mandible of A. weltoni | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Desmostylia |
| Family: | †Paleoparadoxiidae |
| Genus: | †Archaeoparadoxia Barnes, 2013 |
| Species | |
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Archaeoparadoxia is a genus of desmostylian mammal from late Oligocene California.[1] The name derives from the Archaic Greek "archaio" (meaning "from the beginning") and the name of another genus of desmostylian, Paleoparadoxia.[2]
Description
Archaeoparadoxia is relatively small compared to other desmostylians. The limb bones are gracile, and the cranium is small. The holotype specimen is of a subadult, but it is speculated the individual was near adult size. Incisor morphology of Archaeoparadoxia differs from that of Paleoparadoxia and Neoparadoxia, as they are not flattened dorsoventrally.[2]
Classification
Archaeoparadoxia is considered to be close to other paleoparadoxiids, such as Neoparadoxia and Paleoparadoxia.[2] Archaeoparadoxia was originally considered a species of Paleoparadoxia,[3] P. weltoni, but the species was split on morphological grounds.[2]
Phylogeny of Paleoparadoxiidae in accordance with Barnes (2011)[2];
References
- ^ Asai, Yuma; Ando, Tatsuro; Sawamura, Hiroshi; Hayashi, Shoji (2025-07-31). "New evidence for the co-occurrence of two genera of Paleoparadoxiidae (Mammalia, Desmostylia) from the Middle Miocene of Japan: insights into taxonomic status and paleodiversity in Desmostylia". PeerJ. 13 e19578. doi:10.7717/peerj.19578. ISSN 2167-8359. PMC 12318504. PMID 40755809.
- ^ a b c d e Barnes, Lawrence G.; Barnes, Lawrence G. (2013-09-11). "A New Genus and Species of Late Miocene Paleoparadoxiid (Mammalia, Desmostylia) from Calieornia". Contributions in Science. 521: 51––114. doi:10.5962/p.210565.
- ^ "Mindat.org". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
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