Periptychidae

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Periptychidae
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous to Late Paleocene
Periptychus skeletal.PNG
Skeletal reconstruction of Periptychus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Clade: Paraxonia
Family: Periptychidae
Cope, 1882
Subfamilies and genera

Anisonchinae

Conacodontinae

Periptychinae

incertae sedis

Periptychidae is a family of Cretaceous-Paleocene placental mammals, known definitively only from North America. The family is part of a radiation of early herbivorous and omnivorous mammals formerly classified in the extinct order "Condylarthra", which may be related to some or all living ungulates (hoofed mammals). Periptychids are distinguished from other "condylarths" by their teeth, which have swollen premolars and unusual vertical enamel ridges. The family includes both large and small genera, with the larger forms having robust skeletons. Known skeletons of periptychids suggest generalized terrestrial habits.

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References