Azilestes
| Azilestes Temporal range: Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Family: | †Zhelestidae |
| Genus: | †Azilestes Gheerbrant & Teodori, 2021 |
| Species: | †A. ragei |
| Binomial name | |
| †Azilestes ragei Gheerbrant & Teodori, 2021 | |
Azilestes ("Mas-d'Azil robber") is a genus of probable zhelestid eutherian mammal, a family consisting of small herbivores, that was discovered in the early Maastrichtian Grès de Labarre Formation of France. It is a monotypic genus, with only type species A. ragei being known. Only one specimen, the holotype described in 2021, is known. It consists of a partial dentary with teeth.
Certain aspects of Azilestes's dental anatomy are heavily convergent with later groups of herbivorous mammals, including Glires, though phylogenetic analysis suggests a position within the Zhelestidae. It possesses bunodont molars, enlarged postfossids and hypoconids, an interradicular crest and radicular grooves, a unique combination among Cretaceous eutherians.