Zalambdalestes

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iZalambdalestes
Fossil range: Late Cretaceous
Conservation status
Extinct (fossil)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Eutheria
Superfamily: Leptictoidea
Family: Zalambdalestidae
Genus: Zalambdalestes

Zalambdalestes was a placental mammal living during the Upper Cretaceous in Mongolia. Like posterior Leptictidium, Zalambdalestes was a shrew-like animal with a long snout, long teeth, a little brain and big eyes. It was about 20 cm long, with a head only 5 cm long.

It had strong front paws and even stronger rear ones which were useless for this little creature to climb trees. Its diet was composed mainly of those insects it hunted in the forest undergrowth using its sharped, interlocking teeth.

[edit] External reference

Zalambdalestidae