Taeniodont

Taxobox
name = Taeniodonta

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image_caption = "Stylinodon mirus"
image_width = 270px
fossil_range = Early Paleocene to Middle Eocene
status = Fossil
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
infraclassis = Eutheria
superordo = Laurasiatheria
ordo = Cimolesta
subordo = Taeniodonta
familia = Stylinodontidae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = See "Taxonomy"

The taeniodonts were an early group of mammals who lived from the Palaeocene to the Eocene. This group evolved quickly into highly specialized digging animals. Taeniodont species varied greatly in size, from rat-sized to species as large as a bear. Later species developed prominent front teeth and huge claws for digging and rooting. Some genera, like "Stylinodon", had ever-growing teeth.

Only one family belongs to this group, the stylinodontids. They were endemic to North America. The scarcity of taeniodont fossils can be explained by the fact that these animals probably lived in the drier parts of the continent where fossilization was less frequent. Taeniodonts may be related to Cimolesta.

Taxonomy

From McKenna and Bell (1997):

*Order Cimolesta
**Suborder Taeniodonta
***Family Stylinodontidae
*****"Onychodectes"
*****"Conoryctella"
****Subfamily Conoryctinae
*****"Huerfanodon"
*****"Conoryctes"
****Subfamily Stylinodontinae
*****"Schochia"
*****"Wortmania"
*****"Psittacotherium"
*****"Ectoganus"
*****"Stylinodon"

References

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