Infraclass Australosphenida Phylum Chordata | Scientific name Kollikodon ritchiei Rank Species | |
Family †KollikodontidaeFlannery, Archer, Rich & Jones, 1995 Genus †KollikodonFlannery, Archer, Rich & Jones, 1995 Similar Steropodon, Steropodontidae, Teinolophos, Obdurodon, Zaglossus hacketti | ||
Kollikodon ritchiei is a australosphenidan species, often classified as a monotreme but more recently recovered as an outgroup. It is known only from an opalised dentary fragment, with one premolar and two molars in situ. The fossil was found at Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia, as was Steropodon.
Kollikodon lived in the lower Cretaceous period, during the middle Albian age (113-101 million years ago).
Like Steropodon, Kollikodon was a relatively large mammal for the Mesozoic. The molars have a length of around 5.5 mm and a width of between about 4 and 6 mm (Clemens et al., 2003). Based upon these data, the potential body length could be up to a metre. Assuming the accuracy of such a guess, Kollikodon would be a contender for the largest Mesozoic mammal known, along with other possible giants such as Repenomamus, Schowalteria, and Bubodens.
Aside from its size, it is difficult to say what Kollikodon looked like. It is certain that its teeth were specialised to crush food, being perhaps a shellfish-eater or herbivore.
Both Kollikodon and Steropodon can be found at the Australian Museum in Sydney, along with Eric, the opalised pliosaur.
Origin of Kollikodon's name
Kollix is an ancient Greek word (Κολλίξ) for a bread roll. The strange teeth of Kollikodon, when seen from above, resemble hot cross buns, traditionally toasted and eaten on Good Friday. Originally, Dr Mike Archer wanted to name it "Hotcrossbunodon", but met disapproval from his associates.