Triisodontidae

From EvoWiki

Triisodontids Fossil range: Early Paleocene to Late Eocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: †Mesonychia Family: †Triisodontidae Trouessart, 1904
Genera
†Andrewsarchus †Eoconodon †Goniacodon †Stelocyon †Triisodon

Triisodontidae (literally "Three Equal Teeth") is an extinct family of mesonychian placental mammals. Most triisodontid genera lived during the early Paleocene in North America, but the genus Andrewsarchus is known from the late Eocene of Asia.^[1] Triisodontids were the first relatively large predatory mammals to appear in North America following the extinction of the dinosaurs.^[1] They differ from other mesonychian families in having less highly modified teeth.^[1]

Because of their comparatively simpler teeth, the Triisodontids are regarded as basal mesonychids. Some experts regard the Triisodontids as being condylarths, or even arctocyonids, rather than mesonychids proper.

References

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