| Batodonoides vanhouteni Temporal range: Eocene, 53 Ma |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Insectivora |
| Family: | Geolabididae |
| Genus: | Batodonoides Novacek 1976 |
| Species: | B. vanhouteni |
| Binomial name | |
| Batodonoides vanhouteni Bloch et al. 1998 |
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Batodonoides vanhouteni is an extinct shrew-like mammal, thought to be the smallest mammal that ever lived. Based on the size of its molar teeth, it is estimated that Batodonoides vanhouteni weighed only 0.93–1.82 grams (0.033–0.064 oz) (with 1.3 g (0.046 oz) most likely). They lived about 53 million years ago during the early Eocene Epoch in North America.[1] The species is a member of the Order Insectivora.
The fossilized remains of a juvenile, consisting of a mandible and some teeth, were discovered in 1998 in Wyoming in 53 million year old rocks. Another member of the genus is known from California, also from the Early Eocene.