| Hapalodectes Temporal range: Late Paleocene–Early Eocene |
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|---|---|
| Hapalodectes serus | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Mesonychia |
| Family: | Hapalodectidae |
| Genus: | Hapalodectes |
| Species | |
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See text |
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Hapalodectes (literally "Soft Biter" απαλος, hapalos = "soft, tender", δῆκτῆς, dêktês = "biter") was a genus of otter-like mesonychid from the Late Paleocene to Early Eocene some 55 million years ago. Although the first fossils were found in Eocene strata of Wyoming, the genus originated in Mongolia, as the oldest species is H. dux, which was found in Late Paleocene strata in the Naran Bulak Formation[1] The genus is suggested to be related to the Archaeoceti, such as Pakicetus, due to extreme similarities between the skull and teeth anatomies of the two genera.