Triisodontidae
Paleocene[1] | |
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Triisodon quivirensis | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | †Mesonychia |
Family: | †Triisodontidae Trouessart, 1904 |
Type genus | |
†Triisodon
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Genera | |
Triisodontidae is an extinct, probably paraphyletic, or possibly invalid familyofmesonychian placental mammals. Most triisodontid genera lived during the PaleoceneinNorth America, but the genus Andrewsarchus (if it is a mesonychian, and not an artiodactyl) is known from the middle EoceneofAsia.[2] Triisodontids were the first relatively large predatory mammals to appear in North America following the extinction of the non-bird dinosaurs.[3] They differ from other mesonychian families in having less highly modified teeth.[4]
Because of their comparatively simpler teeth, the triisodontids are regarded as basal mesonychids. A recent study found them to be a paraphyletic assemblage of stem-mesonychians.[5]
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Triisodontidae |
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Mesonychidae |
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Hapalodectidae |
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Triisodontidae |
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