Thryptodon, Hooker & Russell, 2012

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 : 897

GENUS THRYPTODON GEN. NOV.

Type species: Thryptodon brailloni sp. nov., late Thanetian, Cernaysian ELMA, Cernay, Berru .

Etymology: From the Greek fruptw, I crush, and odou ς, odonto ς, tooth, in allusion to the function of the bunodont molars of this genus. Masculine.

Diagnosis: Large louisinid with bulbous-cusped cheek teeth and weak exodaenodonty on both upper and lower molars. M 1–2 relatively transversely elongate outline, with straight, distobuccally directed postprotocrista, distinct metaconule, no premetaconule crista, and postparaconule crista weak. M 1–2 central valley longitudinally grooved (shared with Gigarton ). M 1–2 paraconule is closer to the protocone than is the metaconule. M 1 with: hypocone slightly lower than protocone; metacone slightly lower than paracone; weak protostyle. Lower molars with ectostylid. M 1 with: trigonid scarcely wider than talonid; weak entoconulid; paraconid small, low, cuspate. M 1 with: hypoconid about half the height of protoconid; entoconid about half the height of metaconid; precingulid high mesially, independent of paracristid (shared with Prolouisina ).