| The Trelatebrates, Specific to the Metazoic |
This is the one group that is specific only to the Metazoic. They also dominate the Metazoic era with their
grace and unique beauty. This group is descended from elephant shrews. The group is comprised of
mammals that have complex and varied lifestyles, from tiny grass eaters to the largest predatory mammals
ever to evolve on land. They range in size from the tiny Dendromillops to the giant Cervilecticula. All
species have hooves, like modern ungulates, of one kind or another. All have long legs and are great
runners. The appearance varies, Dendromillops somewhat resembles the modern elephant shrews, but
lives in the trees. The deinognathids are quite a largely varied group as well. Some species are deer-like,
while others are bipedal, kangaroo-like animals. But all deinognathids are carnivorous. One species,
Feresetta, is a small and very light-weight deinognathid with elongate toes like modern jacanas. They also
gave rise to the family of other small, jacana-like mammals, the lily-walkers. The entire group, Trelatebrata,
is made up of 4 superfamilies:
Therapedoidea (contains the families Therapedidae, Cerosidae, Choerocaballidae, Immanidae,
Aquatragulidae and Pasceridae)
Deinognathoidea (contains the families Deinognathidae, Jacanatheriidae, and Pelargidae)
Megacolloidea (contains the families Megacollidae and Diplonearidae)
Ungulascelidoidea (contains the family Ungulascelididae)
Most species are large, but as stated before, there are some small and delicate species. The
trelatebrates are so named because both males and females have 3 vents, and no external testes. The
reproductive tract is separate from the urinary tract as females only come into estrous one day out of the
year, and there is no chance of the valuable sperm being lost, killed or voided in the urinary tract. In the
Deinognathoids the teeth are serrated and actually peg-shaped. In the large species, like Deinognathus,
the teeth are made for crushing, not necessarily tearing, though they are quite effective at tearing off
chunks of meat. In the omnivorous species, as those in the Therapedoidea, the jaws are powerful, but the
teeth are flat and made for grinding vegetation, with sharp incisors for ripping. The tail is long and thick
and used to counterbalance the head, and also to help the animal keep it's balance when running,
particularly for the bipeds.
grace and unique beauty. This group is descended from elephant shrews. The group is comprised of
mammals that have complex and varied lifestyles, from tiny grass eaters to the largest predatory mammals
ever to evolve on land. They range in size from the tiny Dendromillops to the giant Cervilecticula. All
species have hooves, like modern ungulates, of one kind or another. All have long legs and are great
runners. The appearance varies, Dendromillops somewhat resembles the modern elephant shrews, but
lives in the trees. The deinognathids are quite a largely varied group as well. Some species are deer-like,
while others are bipedal, kangaroo-like animals. But all deinognathids are carnivorous. One species,
Feresetta, is a small and very light-weight deinognathid with elongate toes like modern jacanas. They also
gave rise to the family of other small, jacana-like mammals, the lily-walkers. The entire group, Trelatebrata,
is made up of 4 superfamilies:
Therapedoidea (contains the families Therapedidae, Cerosidae, Choerocaballidae, Immanidae,
Aquatragulidae and Pasceridae)
Deinognathoidea (contains the families Deinognathidae, Jacanatheriidae, and Pelargidae)
Megacolloidea (contains the families Megacollidae and Diplonearidae)
Ungulascelidoidea (contains the family Ungulascelididae)
Most species are large, but as stated before, there are some small and delicate species. The
trelatebrates are so named because both males and females have 3 vents, and no external testes. The
reproductive tract is separate from the urinary tract as females only come into estrous one day out of the
year, and there is no chance of the valuable sperm being lost, killed or voided in the urinary tract. In the
Deinognathoids the teeth are serrated and actually peg-shaped. In the large species, like Deinognathus,
the teeth are made for crushing, not necessarily tearing, though they are quite effective at tearing off
chunks of meat. In the omnivorous species, as those in the Therapedoidea, the jaws are powerful, but the
teeth are flat and made for grinding vegetation, with sharp incisors for ripping. The tail is long and thick
and used to counterbalance the head, and also to help the animal keep it's balance when running,
particularly for the bipeds.
The ancestor to all the trelatebrates
are the elephant shrews, much like this
spectacled elephant shrew. Like many
species in this order, elephant shrews
are versatile, and can either hop or run
on their hind legs, and have a varied
diet of both small invertebrates and
vegetation.
(Photo courtesy of Google Images)
are the elephant shrews, much like this
spectacled elephant shrew. Like many
species in this order, elephant shrews
are versatile, and can either hop or run
on their hind legs, and have a varied
diet of both small invertebrates and
vegetation.
(Photo courtesy of Google Images)
Some theraped species, like this Tachypus,
pictured at right, are bipeds. And some are
quadrupeds, like Vehemens pictured
below. This gives the animals a good range
of motion. Bipedal animals may be faster
than quadrupeds and can use their
forelimbs for other activities while
maintaining the ability to make a quick
get-away when necessary.
pictured at right, are bipeds. And some are
quadrupeds, like Vehemens pictured
below. This gives the animals a good range
of motion. Bipedal animals may be faster
than quadrupeds and can use their
forelimbs for other activities while
maintaining the ability to make a quick
get-away when necessary.
Trelatebrates Presented on This Site:
Anacolls
Double-grazers
Shrubucks
Immanids
Gaboon-Antelope
Lily-hoppers
The Deinognathids represent another branch the
elephant shrews took, though along the same lines as
the therapeds. But unlike the therapeds, which are
largely vegetarians or omnivores, the deinognathids
are strict carnivores. Many species, like Deinognathus
pictured below, are bipeds with hoofed rear feet and
clawed front feet. But some species are quadrupeds
with all hoofed feet and kill by eating their prey alive.
All deinognathids kill their own prey, and hunt by using
the surprise method. Though the quadrupeds are
capable of chasing prey for considerable distances.
elephant shrews took, though along the same lines as
the therapeds. But unlike the therapeds, which are
largely vegetarians or omnivores, the deinognathids
are strict carnivores. Many species, like Deinognathus
pictured below, are bipeds with hoofed rear feet and
clawed front feet. But some species are quadrupeds
with all hoofed feet and kill by eating their prey alive.
All deinognathids kill their own prey, and hunt by using
the surprise method. Though the quadrupeds are
capable of chasing prey for considerable distances.
Another Branch in the Family Tree
There is another branch in the Metazoic family tree left by the elephant shrews that is distantly related to the
therapeds. They are not within the order Trelatebrata, but represent their own orders. They are groups of
mammals known by the collective name "sinecrus". These animals also descended from elephant shrews,
but took a very different turn from the trelatebrates. They take the place of cetaceans in many cases. Most
are present in the Pacific Ocean, and Batavia. The Batavian Islands seem to be the home point for
sinecrus. They inhabit all wetland habitats, from the surrounding ocean to small lakes and streams. On the
islands themselves, there are 3 varieties, there is a horned variety with tusks that extend through the snout,
a carnivorous variety that lives like modern crocodiles, and a vegetarian variety that lives like modern
manatees. All have long foreflippers and the hind legs are reduced to tiny sized flippers that are virtually
useless. The tail swings side-to-side as in fish, rather than up and down like whales. Most are small to
medium sized creatures, the largest sinecru on the Batavian Islands measures 10 feet in length. The
sinecrus that live in the ocean it's self can get considerably bigger, some as big as 22 feet long.
therapeds. They are not within the order Trelatebrata, but represent their own orders. They are groups of
mammals known by the collective name "sinecrus". These animals also descended from elephant shrews,
but took a very different turn from the trelatebrates. They take the place of cetaceans in many cases. Most
are present in the Pacific Ocean, and Batavia. The Batavian Islands seem to be the home point for
sinecrus. They inhabit all wetland habitats, from the surrounding ocean to small lakes and streams. On the
islands themselves, there are 3 varieties, there is a horned variety with tusks that extend through the snout,
a carnivorous variety that lives like modern crocodiles, and a vegetarian variety that lives like modern
manatees. All have long foreflippers and the hind legs are reduced to tiny sized flippers that are virtually
useless. The tail swings side-to-side as in fish, rather than up and down like whales. Most are small to
medium sized creatures, the largest sinecru on the Batavian Islands measures 10 feet in length. The
sinecrus that live in the ocean it's self can get considerably bigger, some as big as 22 feet long.
Ephozodous represents the carnivorous sinecrus on
the Batavian Islands.
the Batavian Islands.
Cervainia is among the vegetarians of the
family, living the life of faster-moving manatees.
family, living the life of faster-moving manatees.
To learn more about the
Trelatebrates and their close
kin, please visit our blog.
Trelatebrates and their close
kin, please visit our blog.