Cretaceous zhelestid mammals are zalambdalestoids

TL;DR - New Mongolian fossils place Cretaceous zhelestid mammals within Zalambdalestoidea rather than among placental-like herbivore relatives, revising their evolutionary classification.

• Zhelestids share zalambdalestid skull and limb characteristics.
• Their distinctive molars represent dental variation within Zalambdalestoidea.
• The findings challenge earlier interpretations based heavily on herbivore-like teeth.