Xiphodontidae

Xiphodontidae is an extinct family of 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] They were, most likely, all terrestrial herbivores. Paraxiphodon suggests that they survived into the Lower Oligocene, at least.[2]

Xiphodontidae
Temporal range:
Drawing of Xiphodon by Georges Cuvier
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: †Xiphodontidae
Flower, 1883
Genera

†Dichodon
†Haplomeryx
†Paraxiphodon
†Xiphodon

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]

References
  1. PaleoBiology Database: Xiphodontidae, basic info
  2. Prothero, D.R.; Foss, S.E. (2007). The Evolution of Artiodactyls. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9780801887352. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
  3. Blondel, C (April 2001). "The Eocene–Oligocene ungulates from Western Europe and their environment". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 168 (1–2): 125–139. doi:10.1016/S0031-0182(00)00252-2.
  4. J. J. Hooker. 1986. Mammals from the Bartonian (middle/late Eocene) of the Hampshire Basin, southern England. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) 39(4):191-478
  5. R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York 1-698
  6. Luccisano, Vincent; Sudre, Jean; Lihoreau, Fabrice (2020-10-01). "Revision of the Eocene artiodactyls (Mammalia, Placentalia) from Aumelas and Saint-Martin-de-Londres (Montpellier limestones, Hérault, France) questions the early European artiodactyl radiation". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 18 (19): 1631–1656. doi:10.1080/14772019.2020.1799253. ISSN 1477-2019.
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