Produced by the Population Genetics and Evolution class, Furman University

The Jurassic: Multituberculates
Multituberculates, an order of mammals that lived during the Mesozoic Era, are rodent-like creatures that range from the size of a mouse to the size of a beaver (Jehle 2010). Known for being the “rodents of the Mesozoic”, scientists also believe that Multituberculates could have been excellent jumpers, due to their sprawling posture, and can therefore be labeled as the “rabbits of the Mesozoic” (White and Kazlev 2010). They were thought to be the most abundant mammals from 178-50 mya (Weil 1997). However, Multituberculates did not actually have that much in common with modern mammals. They did have three otic ossicles in their ears, but their way of chewing food was very different than the molars used by mammals, today (White and Kazlev 2010). Multituberculates were the only major branch of mammals to become completely extinct, leaving no living descendents. They get their name from their teeth, which have many cusps or tubercles arranged in rows (Weil 1997). Most Multituberculates were thought to be herbivores, but some evidence shows that certain species were able to digest meat (Jehle 2010). Multituberculates did not lay eggs, but gave birth to immature young that was then nursed by the mother (Jehle 2010). Fossilized remains of Multituberculates have been found all over the world, but are especially common in North America and Europe (Weil 1997).

Page by Julia Bobo
An artists’ reconstruction of a Multituberculate, taken from: University of Bristol

Jehle M. 2010. Paleocene Mammals of the World. Accessed March 29th, 2010.

White T, Kazlev MA. 2010. Mammaliformes, Multituberculates. www.palaeos.com. Accessed on March 29th, 2010.

Weil A. 1997. Introduction to Multituberculates. University of California Museum of Paleontology. Accessed on March 29th, 2010.