Xiphodontidae
Extinct family of mammals
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Xiphodontidae (from Ancient Greek ξίφος (xíphos), meaning "sword", and ὀδούς (odoús), meaning "tooth") 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]
| Xiphodontidae Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| |
| Drawing of Xiphodon by Georges Cuvier | |
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| Life restoration of Xiphodon | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | †Xiphodontidae Flower, 1883 |
| Genera | |
Description
The molar teeth of xiphodontids are brachydont (low crowned) and selenodont.[3]
Taxonomy
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]