| Anoplotheriidae
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|---|---|
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| Reconstruction of Anoplotherium | |
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| Life restoration of Diplobune | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | †Anoplotheriidae Bonaparte, 1850 |
| Subfamilies | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Anoplotheriina Bonaparte 1850 | |
Anoplotheriidae is an extinct familyofartiodactyl ungulates. They were endemic to Europe during the Eocene and Oligocene epochs about 44—30 million years ago. Its name is derived from the Ancient Greek: ἂνοπλος ("unarmed")[1] and θήριον ("beast"),[2] translating as "unarmed beast".
Species of Anoplotheriidae varied substantially in size. Diplobune minor is suggested to have weighted about 20 kg (44 lb),[3] while Anoplotherium is suggested to have been up to 271 kg (597 lb) in weight.[4] Anoplotherium is thought to have been a browser that reared up on its hind legs to feed,[5] while Diplobune is suggested to have been an arboreal climbing animal.[3]
The family Anoplotheriidae was assigned to BelluaebyBonaparte (who named it Anoplotheriina) in 1850; to ArtiodactylabyCope in 1889, to RuminantiabyGregory in 1910, and finally to its own superfamily AnoplotherioideabyRomer in 1966.[6][7][8] A 2019 study considered them to be closely related to Cainotheriidae, another group of endemic European artiodactyls, with this group in turn being related to ruminants,[9] while a 2020 study found them to be more closely related to the also European endemic Xiphodontidae, again as relatives of ruminants.[10]
Included genera:
| Anoplotheriidae |
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|---|---|
