Re-restoring and re-scoring Patriomanis, an early pangolin
The is a tale of nearly toothless taxa
and convergence finally overcome by the LRT after rescoring based on insitu data (Fig 2), rather than the freehand restoration of a skull provided by the authors (Fig 1).
Pangolin (= Manis) ancestors are rare.
Patriomanis (Late Eocene, Figs 1, 2) is “more complete than any of the other fossil
pangolin taxa,” according to Gaudin, Emery and Morris 2016, the authors of the Patriomanis description. They also wrote, “some comparisons are included, where
appropriate, to the metacheiromyid palaeanodonts Metacheiromys and Palaeanodon and the enigmatic “edentate” Eurotamandua.”
So, that brings Metacheiromys (Fig 3) into the spotlight.
According to Wikipedia – Metacheiromys
“Metacheiromys …had long claws and a narrow head similar in shape to that of an armadillo or an anteater (though it was actually related to the modern pangolins.“
That’s why Metacheiromys was in the spotlight.
Figure 1. Patriomanis, an early pangolin, compared to scale with Acristatherium (see figure 2).
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/patriomanis588-1.jpg?w=237″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/patriomanis588-1.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-92547″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/patriomanis588-1.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. Patriomanis, an early pangolin, compared to scale with Acristatherium (see figure 2).” width=”584″ height=”738″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/patriomanis588-1.jpg?w=584&h=738 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/patriomanis588-1.jpg?w=119&h=150 119w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/patriomanis588-1.jpg?w=237&h=300 237w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/patriomanis588-1.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. Patriomanis, an early pangolin, skull resotred by (see figure 2).
Here’s the problem:
The tube-like skull of pangolins more closely resembles that of armadillos, like Dasypus (Fig 5). Likewise, the broad, convex skull of Metacheiromys more closely resembles that of the early pantodont, Alcidedorbignya (Fig 4).
The published restoration of Patriomanis
(Fig 1) restored several aspects of the fossil (Fig 2) that are not preserved. That restoration linked Patriomanis to Metacheiromys (Fig 3) in the LRT until today. The basic Bauplan of each skull is different enough to nest Metacheiromys with Alcidedorbignya when the pangolins are deleted – and Patriomanis + Manis) with the armadillos, Dasypus and Epoicotherium – when either Metacheiromys is deleted.from the large reptile tree (LRT, 2338 taxa).
That was too much fragility to ignore.
Figure 2. Patriomanis skull in situ, 4 views. DGS colors added here. Restoration added here based on Dasypus and Manis.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/patriomanis-insitu588.gif?w=204″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/patriomanis-insitu588.gif?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-93077″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/patriomanis-insitu588.gif” alt=”Figure 2. Patriomanis skull in situ, 4 views. DGS colors added here. Restoration added here based on Dasypus and Manis.” width=”584″ height=”857″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/patriomanis-insitu588.gif?w=584&h=857 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/patriomanis-insitu588.gif?w=102&h=150 102w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/patriomanis-insitu588.gif?w=204&h=300 204w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/patriomanis-insitu588.gif 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 2. Patriomanis skull in situ, 4 views. DGS colors added here. Restoration added here based on Dasypus and Manis. Compare to figure 1. Here the purported hyoid (hy, cyan) could be a jugal, as shown in the restoration frame.
That prompted the re-scoring
of Patriomanis according to the in situ images (Fig 2), rather than the easier to understand, but somewhat imagined published drawing (Fig 1).
Now Patriomanis and Manis
nest with the armadillos in the LRT far from Metacheiromys (Fig 4) and Alcidedorbignya (Fig 3).
Problem resolved.
Figure 2. From Muizon et al. 2015, Alcidedorbygna posed as an arboreal mammal.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/alcidedorbignya_climbing588.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/alcidedorbignya_climbing588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-65105″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/alcidedorbignya_climbing588.jpg” alt=”Figure 2. From Muizon et al. 2015, Alcidedorbygna posed as an arboreal mammal.” width=”584″ height=”458″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/alcidedorbignya_climbing588.jpg?w=584&h=458 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/alcidedorbignya_climbing588.jpg?w=150&h=118 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/alcidedorbignya_climbing588.jpg?w=300&h=235 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/alcidedorbignya_climbing588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 3. From Muizon et al. 2015, Alcidedorbygna posed as an arboreal mammal.
Patriomanis americana
(Emry 1970; Gaudin, Emery and Morris 2016, Late Eocene, Wyoming, Figs 1, 2).
These latter authors did not mention Alcidedorbignya (Fig 3), described a year earlier in 2015. Sometimes that happens given the time it takes to publish a manuscript after submission, along with the days, weeks or monts needed for workers to get around to reading and applying the latest literature.
Figure 2. Skeletons of Metacheiromys, Alocodontullum and Manis nearly to scale.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/metacheiromys-tatusia588.jpg?w=204″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/metacheiromys-tatusia588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-88370″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/metacheiromys-tatusia588.jpg” alt=”Figure 2. Skeletons of Metacheiromys, Alocodontullum and Manis nearly to scale.” width=”584″ height=”858″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/metacheiromys-tatusia588.jpg?w=584&h=858 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/metacheiromys-tatusia588.jpg?w=102&h=150 102w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/metacheiromys-tatusia588.jpg?w=204&h=300 204w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/metacheiromys-tatusia588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 4. Skeletons of Metacheiromys, Alocodontullum and Manis nearly to scale.
Alcidedorbignya inopinata
(Muizon and Marshall 1992 Muizon et al 2015; MHNC 8372, Early Paleocene, 64 mya; scale bar is 2cm) was originally considered a basal pantodont (Condylartha) close to Pantolambda and the origin of ungulates. In the LRT pantodonts are not related to artiodactyls + perissodactyls. Pantodonts are related to elephants, sloths, glyptodonts and a number of large early Paleogene taxa with no more direct living relatives. Glyptodonts are not related to armadillos in the LRT.
Figure 7. Skull of the armadillo Dasypus from Digimorph.org, used with permission. and select bones colorized.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/dasypus_skull588.gif?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/dasypus_skull588.gif?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-93083″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/dasypus_skull588.gif” alt=”Figure 7. Skull of the armadillo Dasypus from Digimorph.org, used with permission. and select bones colorized. ” width=”584″ height=”557″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/dasypus_skull588.gif?w=584&h=557 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/dasypus_skull588.gif?w=150&h=143 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/dasypus_skull588.gif?w=300&h=286 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/dasypus_skull588.gif 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 5. Skull of the armadillo Dasypus from Digimorph.org, used with permission. and colorized here. Compare to Patriomanis in figure 2.
This appears to be a novel hypothesis of interrelationships.
If not, please provide a citation so I can promote it here.
References
Emry RJ 1970. A North American Oligocene pangolin and other additions to the Pholidota. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 142: 455-510.
Gaudin TJ, Emery RJ and Morris J 2016. Skeletal Anatomy of the North American Pangolin Patriomanis americana (Mammalia, Pholidota) from the Latest Eocene of Wyoming (USA). Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.
de Muizon C de & Marshall LG 1992. Alcidedorbignya inopinata (Mammalia: Pantodonta) from the early Paleocene of Bolivia: phylogenetic and paleobiogeographic implications. Journal of Paleontology 66 (3): 499-520.
deMuizon C, Billet G, Argot C, Ladeveze S and Goussard F 2015. Alcidedorbignya inopinata, a basal pantodont (Placentalia, Mammalia) from the early Palaeocene
of Bolivia: anatomy, phylogeny and palaeobiology. Geodiversitas 87(4):397-634.
wiki/Manis
wiki/Patriomanus
wiki/Pangolin = Pholidota
wiki/Alcidedorbignya
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/re-restoring-and-re-scoring-patriomanis-an-early-pangolin/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
| Online: | |
| Visits: | 1,699,602,339 |
| Stories: | 8,426,382 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
