Spelaeomolitor

Spelaeomolitor; Temporal range: Barremian–Aptian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Subclass:	Theria
Genus:	†Spelaeomolitor
Species:	†S. speratus
Binomial name
	†Spelaeomolitor speratus; Martin et al., 2023

Spelaeomolitor is an extinct monotypic genus of basal therian mammal that lived in Germany during the Early Cretaceous epoch.

Etymology

The generic name Spelaeomolitor derives from the Latin words spelaeum and molitor, which respectively mean cave and miller. The generic name references the fossil being found in a cavern and the inferred grinding function of the mammal's talonid. The specific epithet of the type species, Spelaeomolitor speratus, means "hoped for". This is because the discoverers anticipated and hoped for a tribosphenic molar to be discovered at the Balve locality.

References

↑ Martin, Thomas; Averianov, Alexander Olegovich; Schultz, Julia A.; Schwermann, Achim H. (14 December 2022). "A stem therian mammal from the Lower Cretaceous of Germany". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 42 (6). doi:10.1080/02724634.2023.2224848. ISSN 0272-4634. Retrieved 20 August 2026 – via Taylor and Francis Online.

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[1] Martin, Thomas; Averianov, Alexander Olegovich; Schultz, Julia A.; Schwermann, Achim H. (14 December 2022). "A stem therian mammal from the Lower Cretaceous of Germany". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 42 (6). doi:10.1080/02724634.2023.2224848. ISSN 0272-4634. Retrieved 20 August 2026 – via Taylor and Francis Online.