Lesson plan
Gomphos
Gomphos is an extinct genus of early lagomorphs from the early Eocene of China and Mongolia. Gomphos was first named in 1975 from material found in the Gashato Formation. There are currently two species in this genus: G. elkema, from the Greek word γόμφος (Romanized gomphos), which means "peg", but can also be used to signify molar teeth; and G. shevyrevae was named later in honour of the lead author who named the first original genus and species of Gomphos elkema. Analysis supports Gomphos as one of the earliest lagomorphs, the group that includes rabbits, hares and pikas. It is likely that lagomorphs split off from the rest of the placental mammals around the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary.
Article summary
Gomphos is an extinct genus of early lagomorphs from the early Eocene of China and Mongolia. Gomphos was first named in 1975 from material found in the Gashato Formation. There are currently two species in this genus: G. elkema, from the Greek word γόμφος (Romanized gomphos), which means "peg", but can also be used to signify molar teeth; and G. shevyrevae was named later in honour of the lead author who named the first original genus and species of Gomphos elkema. Analysis supports Gomphos as one of the earliest lagomorphs, the group that includes rabbits, hares and pikas. It is likely that lagomorphs split off from the rest of the placental mammals around the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.