4.45 Mb color tif, 300 dpi, 1200 x 1294 px

131 Kb color jpeg, 72 dpi, 659 x 496 px

53 Kb color jpeg, 72 dpi, 288 x 311 px

On the left is Maelestes gobiensis; on the right is a living hairy-tailed mole Parascalops breweri from Allegheny County. Maelestes was comparable in size to the mole (40 to 80 grams), but had a more shrew-like life style . Note that the skull of Maelestes has more room for teeth that the mole does, and in fact, Maelestes had even more teeth as the bone holding the upper incisors is missing.
Photo: John Wible/CMNH

47 Kb B/W jpeg, 150 dpi, 508 x 344 px

The skull of Maelestes in comparison to two other eutherians from the same time period in Mongolia, Asioryctes and Zalambdalestes. Maelestes is more closely related to Asioryctes, and their skulls are more similar here.
Illustration: Paul Bowden/CMNH

107 Kb color jpeg, 150 dpi, 768 x 856 px

Family tree for Maelestes (indicated by the silhouetted mammal). The K/T boundary is in red. All placentals in the tree post date the K/T boundary and no Cretaceous taxa are included within Placentalia (the formal name for placental mammals).

8.3 Mb B/W tif, 300 dpi, 1712 x 2533 px

455 Kb B/W jpeg, 300 dpi, 1712 x 2533 px

84 Kb B/W jpeg, 72 dpi, 411 x 608 px

Maelestes teeth (last two premolars and molars):
(A) uppers in lateral view;
(B) uppers in occlusal view;
(C) lowers in occlusal view;
(D) lowers in lingual view;
(E) lowers in labial view
Illustration: Paul Bowden/CMNH

3.6 Mb B/W tif, 300 dpi, 2368 x 1570 px

434 Kb B/W jpeg, 300 dpi, 2368 x 1570 px

92 Kb B/W jpeg, 72 dpi, 568 x 377 px

Maelestes anterior skull and jaw in lateral view.
Illustration: Paul Bowden/CMNH

1.36 Mb B/W tif, 300 dpi, 1171 x 2334 px

63 Kb B/W jpeg, 72 dpi, 281 x 560 px

Maelestes skull, ventral anterior view.
Illustration: Paul Bowden/CMNH

1.14 Mb B/W tif, 300 dpi, 1713 x 1213 px

51 Kb B/W jpeg, 72 dpi, 411 x 291 px

Maelestes skull, ventral posterior view.
Illustration: Paul Bowden/CMNH

Click here to return to press release.