Adapisoriculidae
Extinct family of eutherian mammals
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Adapisoriculidae is an extinct family of non-placental eutherian mammals which was present during the Paleogene and possibly the Late Cretaceous. They were once thought to be members of the order Erinaceomorpha,[7] closely related to the hedgehog family (Erinaceidae), because of their similar dentition, or to be basal Euarchontans.[8] They were also thought to be marsupials at one point. Most recent studies show them to be non-placental eutherians, however.[9]
| Adapisoriculidae Temporal range:
Possible Late Cretaceous record[1] | |
|---|---|
| |
| Jaw fragment of Bustylus marandati | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Clade: | Eutheria |
| Family: | †Adapisoriculidae Van Valen (1967) |
| Genera | |
| |
They were small mammals of about 15 cm long, with a tail of equal length. They were probably nocturnal, eating insects and fruits.
Deccanolestes and Sahnitherium from the Late Cretaceous of India may be Cretaceous members of Adapisoriculidae.
