Pantolestidae Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
Palaeosinopa, from Wyoming eocene | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | †Cimolesta |
Suborder: | †Pantolesta |
Family: | †Pantolestidae Cope, 1884 |
Genera | |
Bessoecetor |
Pantolestidae is an extinct family of semi-aquatic, non-placental eutherian mammals. Forming the core of the equally extinct suborder Pantolesta, the pantolestids evolved as a series of increasingly otter-like forms, ranging from the Middle Paleocene (60 mya) Bessoecetor to the Late Eocene (Ergilian) (50-33 mya) Gobiopithecus and Kiinkerishella. They first appear in North America, whence they spread to Europe.[1]