Palaeoryctes

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Palaeoryctes
Fossil range: Middle Paleocene to Late Paleocene
Conservation status
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cimolesta
Family: Palaeoryctidae
Genus: Palaeoryctes

Palaeoryctes is an extinct genus of mammal from Middle to Late Palaeocene of North America.

The shrew-like creature was 12,5 cm (5 in) long, and weigh around 20 - 60 g. It is slender and had typical insectivore teeth. Palaeoryctes and its relatives evolved into the large carnivorous Creodonta. The molars of Palaeoryctes had little function other than piercing.

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