A Late Cretaceous taeniodont (Eutheria, Mammalia) from Alberta, Canada

Schowalteria clemensi n.g. n.sp., from the Late Cretaceous Scollard Formation, Red Deer River Valley is the first Mesozoic taeniodont to be discovered. Although more primitive in important features of the postcanine dentition than the conoryctid Onychodectes (of mid-Puercan age, New Mexico, and previously the most primitive taeniodont known), S. clemensi most resembles the advanced, stylinodontid taeniodonts in incisor morphology, canine specializations, facial proportions, and zygomatic arch construction. The dentition of Schowalteria indicates that the purported affinity of palaeoryctid insectivorans with Onychodectes is based only on homoplastic resemblances, leaving taeniodont relationships unresolved.