Xiphodontidae Temporal range:
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Drawing of Xiphodon by Georges Cuvier | |
Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Family: | †
Xiphodontidae Flower, 1883 |
Genera | |
†
Dichodon |
Xiphodontidae is an extinct family of herbivorous even-toed ungulates ( order Artiodactyla), endemic to Europe during the Eocene 40.4—33.9 million years ago, existing for about 7.5 million years. [1] Paraxiphodon suggests that they survived into the Lower Oligocene, at least. [2]
The molar teeth of xiphodontids are brachydont (low crowned) and selenodont. [3]
The Xiphodontidae were named by Flower (1883). It was assigned to Artiodactyla by Cope (1889); to Xiphodontoidea by Hooker (1986); and to Tylopoda by Carroll (1988). [4] [5] A 2020 study suggested them to be related to ruminants, as well as other Europe-endemic artiodactyls like Cainotheriidae and Anoplotheriidae. [6]
Xiphodontidae Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
![]() | |
Drawing of Xiphodon by Georges Cuvier | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Family: | †
Xiphodontidae Flower, 1883 |
Genera | |
†
Dichodon |
Xiphodontidae is an extinct family of herbivorous even-toed ungulates ( order Artiodactyla), endemic to Europe during the Eocene 40.4—33.9 million years ago, existing for about 7.5 million years. [1] Paraxiphodon suggests that they survived into the Lower Oligocene, at least. [2]
The molar teeth of xiphodontids are brachydont (low crowned) and selenodont. [3]
The Xiphodontidae were named by Flower (1883). It was assigned to Artiodactyla by Cope (1889); to Xiphodontoidea by Hooker (1986); and to Tylopoda by Carroll (1988). [4] [5] A 2020 study suggested them to be related to ruminants, as well as other Europe-endemic artiodactyls like Cainotheriidae and Anoplotheriidae. [6]