Ptilodontoidea

Taxobox
name = Ptilodontoidea
status = Fossil

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image_caption = Skull of "Ptilodus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Multituberculata
superfamilia = Ptilodontoidea
subdivision_ranks = Families
subdivision =
* Neoplagiaulacidae
* Ptilodontidae
* Cimolodontidae
** Other genus
* "Neoliotomus"

Ptilodontoidea is a group of extinct mammals from the Northern Hemisphere. They were generally small, somewhat rodent-like creatures of the extinct order Multituberculata.

Some of these genera boast a great many species, though remains are generally sparse. "Ptilodus" is among the best known, and there's a tendency to depict it as an analog of a squirrel.

Upper Cretaceous remains are known from North America and Europe. Later representatives (Paleocene - Eocene) hail from North America, Europe and Asia. These were some of the last multituberculates, and they are within the suborder Cimolodonta.

The superfamily is further divided into the following families:
*Neoplagiaulacidae - 10 genera;
*Ptilodontidae - 4 genera;
*Cimolodontidae - possibly 3 genera.

The affinities of "Neoliotomus" are less clear, though it seems to fit somewhere within the superfamily.

References

* Kielan-Jaworowska Z & Hurum JH (2001), "Phylogeny and Systematics of multituberculate mammals." "Paleontology" 44, p.389-429.
* Much of this information has been derived from [http://home.arcor.de/ktdykes/ptilodon.htm] "MESOZOIC MAMMALS; Ptilodontoidea, an Internet directory".