A gobiconodontid mammal from the Lower Cretaceous of Central Europe

Abstract A new gobiconodontid eutriconodontan, Westphalodon goini gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a dentary fragment with molariforms 1–3 and an attributed edentulous dentary fragment, from the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian–Aptian) of the Balve-Beckum locality in Germany. The new taxon is unique among eutriconodontans in having two distal cusps on the lower molariform teeth: a distal cusp d, which is aligned with the main cusps a–c, and a distolingual cusp of the cingulid. Similar to Gobiconodon , Westphalodon has only two lower premolariforms, with dp2 being smaller than p1 and shed without replacement. It also has five lower molariforms that are rectangular in occlusal view and have a prominent lingual cingulid. Westphalodon differs from Gobiconodon in lacking interlock between the lower molariforms. The alveoli of the shed dp2 are plugged by bone tissue. Progressive wear on cusps c and d of the molariforms in a posterior direction suggests a more intense use of the posterior teeth for mastication or replacement of anterior molariforms.