Kuehneotheriidae

Taxobox
name = Kuehneotheriidae
fossil_range = Late Triassic - Jurassic
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
unranked_classis = Amniota
classis = Synapsida
unranked_ordo = Mammaliaformes
ordo = Symmetrodonta
familia = Kuehneotheriidae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision =

Kuehneotheriidae is a clade within Symmetrodonta and was created to embrace "Kuehneotherium" and "Woutersia", which lived in Europe in the late Triassic and early Jurassic. All members of "Kuehneotheriidae" which have been found so far are represented only by teeth, but these teeth have features which have led paleontologists to classify "Kuehneotheriidae" as very close relatives of the first true mammals. [cite web | url=http://www.palaeos.com/Vertebrates/Units/Unit420/420.300.html#Kuehneotheriidae | title=Kuehneotheriidae - Palaeos] But fossil clades based solely on teeth often lead to difficulties (Ausktribosphenidae are a good example), and it is not possible to draw significant conclusions about mammalian evolution from the "Kuehneotheriidae" - unless someone finds more complete fossils.

ee also

* Evolution of mammals

References