| Epoicotheriidae Temporal range: 37–9 Ma Eocene |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Pholidota |
| Suborder: | †Palaeanodonta |
| Family: | †Epoicotheriidae |
| Species | |
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Alocodontulum atopum |
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Epoicotheriidae is an extinct family of pangolin-like insectivore mammals which were endemic to North America from the Eocene to the Oligocene 55.4—33.9 Ma existing for approximately 21.5 million years..[1]Epoicotheriids were highly specialized animals that were convergent on golden moles in the structure of their skulls and forelimbs, and would have had a similar lifestyle as subterranean burrowers.
Epoicotheriidae was named by Simpson (1927). It was assigned to Palaeanodonta by Rose (1978) and Carroll (1988).[2]