What is Sparassodont?
{{Taxobox | name = Sparassodonta | image = Tylacosmilus DB.jpg | image_width = 200px | image_caption = ''[[Thylacosmilus]]'' | fossil_range = [[Palaeocene]]–[[Pleistocene]] | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | infraclassis = [[Metatheria]] | ordo = †'''Sparassodonta''' | ordo_authority = '''[[Florentino Ameghino|Ameghino]], 1894''' | subdivision_ranks = Families | subdivision = }} [[File:Lycopsis longirostris.JPG|thumb|right|220px|The borhyaenid ''[[Lycopsis]]'']] The '''Sparassodonta''' were an [[Order (biology)|order]] of carnivorous [[metatheria]]n [[mammal]]s. They are all now [[extinct]].<ref>*{{cite book |author=Goin, Francisco J |chapter=Early marsupial radiations in South America |editor=Menna Jones |editor2=Mike Archer |editor3=Chris Dickman |title=Predators with pouches: the biology of carnivorous marsupials |year=2003 |publisher=CSIRO |pages=30–42 |isbn=9780643099487 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5IqhZoTEF10C&pg=PA30}}</ref> The sparassodonts were native to [[South America]]. They were once thought to be true marsupials, but are now classified as a sister taxon to them.<ref>Simpson, George Gaylord 1941. The affinities of the Borhyaenidae. ''American Museum Novitates'' 1118: 1–6.</ref><ref>{{cite web| last = Naish| first = Darren | title = Invasion of the marsupial weasels, dogs, cats and bears... or is it?| work = Tetrapod zoology| date = 2008| url = http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2008/06/29/borhyaenoids-intro/| access-date = 2008-12-07}}</ref> A number of these mammalian predators closely resemble [[placental]] predators that evolved separately in Eurasia. They were first described by [[Florentino Ameghino]], from fossils found in the Santa Cruz beds of [[Patagonia]]. ==Features== Members of the order Sparassodonta showed many similarities with placental [[carnivora]], but they were not closely related. They are a very good example of [[convergent evolution]]. For example, sparassodont molars were similar to the meat slic