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Polydolopimorphia
Polydolopimorphia is an extinct order of metatherians, closely related to extant marsupials. Known from the Paleocene-Pliocene of South America and the Eocene of Antarctica, they were a diverse group during the Paleogene, filling many niches, before declining and becoming extinct at the end of the Neogene.[1] It is divided into two suborders, Bonapartheriiformes, and Polydolopiformes [2] Most members are only known from jaw fragments, which have their characteristically generally bunodont teeth.[3] The morphology of their teeth has led to proposals that polydolopimorphians may be crown group marsupials, nested within Australidelphia,[4] though this proposal, has been questioned, with other analyses finding them outside of crown-group Marsupialia.[3] The monophyly of the group has been questioned, due to the possibility of the characteristic bunodont teeth emerging convergently in unrelated groups, rather than reflecting a true phylogenetic relationship.[5] The group contained omnivorous, frugivorous and herbivorous forms.[4] TaxonomyTaxonomical subdivision of the Polydolopimorphia:[6]
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