Paschatherium, RUSSELL, 1964

Hooker, Jerry J. & Russell, Donald E., 2012, Early Palaeogene Louisinidae (Macroscelidea, Mammalia), their relationships and north European diversity, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 164 (4), pp. 856-936 : 869-870

GENUS PASCHATHERIUM RUSSELL, 1964

Type species: Paschatherium dolloi ( Teilhard de Chardin, 1927) , late Thanetian , Cernay ; Neustrian , Zone PEI, Dormaal, Erquelinnes, Belgium , Ferry Cliff, UK.

Referred species: Paschatherium russelli Godinot, 1978 , early Ypresian, Neustrian ELMA, Zone PEIII?, Rians, France; Paschatherium plaziati Marandat, 1989 , middle Ypresian, Neustrian ELMA, Fordones, France; Paschatherium marianae Estravis & Russell, 1992 , early Ypresian, Neustrian ELMA, Zone PEII?, Silveirinha, Portugal; Pa. yvettae Gheerbrant, Abrial & Cuenca, 1997 , middle Thanetian, Campo, Spain, early Ypresian, Neustrian ELMA, Zone PEI, Dormaal ( López-Martínez et al., 2006); Paschatherium levei sp. nov., middle Ypresian, Neustrian ELMA, Zone PEV, Condé-en-Brie, France.

Emended diagnosis: P 1 two-rooted (shared with other louisinids, where known, except Walbeckodon and Berrulestes ). P 4 paraconid small, low, transversely crested, joined to paracristid. P 4 metaconid subequal with protoconid, extending mesially (shared with B. phelizoni and B. pellouini ). M 1 preparacrista distinct, directed mesially (shared with Gigarton louisi and Teilhardimys reisi ). M 1 postparaconule crista absent (shared with W. girardi , Berrulestes , Dipavali , Gigarton, Te. reisi , and Teilhardimys musculus ). M 1 postcingulum confluent with metacingulum, independent of postmetaconule crista if present (shared with other louisinids except Walbeckodon and Berrulestes ). M 1 metaconule without cristae. M 1 paraconid small, low, crestiform. M 1 hypoconulid small (shared with other louisinids except Walbeckodon ). M 1 smaller than M 2 (shared with other louisinids except Walbeckodon ).

Discussion: The genus appears paraphyletic in the cladistic analysis conducted below. This reflects the derived characters that are shared with many other louisinids, albeit in a mosaic pattern. However, although a rather generalized louisinid, Paschatherium has a distinct combination of derived characters, which, when louisinids are better known, may show it to be monophyletic. It is therefore retained as a genus for the species listed above.