Varalphadon

Varalphadon; Temporal range: Cenomanian–Campanian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Clade:	Metatheria
Genus:	†Varalphadon; Johanson, 1996
Type species
	Protalphadon wahweapensis; Cifelli, 1990
Other species
	Varalphadon creber Fox, 1971; Varalphadon crebreforme Cifelli, 1990; Varalphadon janetae Carneiro, 2018;

Varalphadon is an extinct genus of metatherian mammal that lived in North America during the Late Cretaceous epoch.

Etymology

The specific epithet of the species Varalphadon janetae honours Janet W. Gillette for her contributions to the Museum of Northern Arizona.

Taxonomy

Varalphadon has been suggested to have been a close relative of sparassodonts, but more recent phylogenetic analysis suggests that the apparent similarities between the two are the result of convergent evolution.

References

↑ "Varalphadon". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 19 October 2026.
↑ Carneiro, Leonardo M. (April 2018). "A new species of Varalphadon (Mammalia, Metatheria, Sparassodonta) from the upper Cenomanian of southern Utah, North America: Phylogenetic and biogeographic insights". Cretaceous Research. 84: 88–96. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2017.11.004. Retrieved 21 October 2026 – via Elsevier Science Direct.
↑ Rangel, Caio César; Carneiro, Leonardo M.; Bergqvist, Lílian Paglarelli; Oliveira, Édison Vicente; Goin, Francisco Javier; Babot, María Judith (7 June 2019). "Diversity, Affinities and Adaptations of the Basal Sparassodont Patene (Mammalia, Metatheria)". Ameghiniana. 56 (4): 263. doi:10.5710/AMGH.06.05.2019.3222. ISSN 0002-7014. Retrieved 19 October 2026 – via BioOne Digital Library.

[1] "Varalphadon". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 19 October 2026.

[2] Carneiro, Leonardo M. (April 2018). "A new species of Varalphadon (Mammalia, Metatheria, Sparassodonta) from the upper Cenomanian of southern Utah, North America: Phylogenetic and biogeographic insights". Cretaceous Research. 84: 88–96. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2017.11.004. Retrieved 21 October 2026 – via Elsevier Science Direct.

[3] Rangel, Caio César; Carneiro, Leonardo M.; Bergqvist, Lílian Paglarelli; Oliveira, Édison Vicente; Goin, Francisco Javier; Babot, María Judith (7 June 2019). "Diversity, Affinities and Adaptations of the Basal Sparassodont Patene (Mammalia, Metatheria)". Ameghiniana. 56 (4): 263. doi:10.5710/AMGH.06.05.2019.3222. ISSN 0002-7014. Retrieved 19 October 2026 – via BioOne Digital Library.