Taeniodont

The taeniodonts were an early group of mammals who lived from the Palaeocene to the Eocene. This group evolved quickly into highly specialized digging animals. Taeniodont species varied greatly in size, from rat-sized to species as large as a bear. Later species developed prominent front teeth and huge claws for digging and rooting. Some genera, like Stylinodon, had ever-growing teeth.

Only one family belongs to this group, the stylinodontids. They were endemic to North America. The scarcity of taeniodont fossils can be explained by the fact that these animals probably lived in the drier parts of the continent where fossilization was less frequent. Taeniodonts may be related to Cimolesta.

Taxonomy

From McKenna and Bell (1997):

• Order Cimolesta
  • Suborder Taeniodonta
    • Family Stylinodontidae
      • • Onychodectes
        • Conoryctella
      • Subfamily Conoryctinae
        • Huerfanodon
        • Conoryctes
      • Subfamily Stylinodontinae
        • Schochia
        • Wortmania
        • Psittacotherium
        • Ectoganus
        • Stylinodon

References

• Cox, Barry; Savage, R.J.G.; Gardiner, Brian; Dixon, Dougal (1988). "Early rooters and browsers". Macmillan Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. Macmillan London Limited. p. 237. ISBN 0-333-48699-4. 
• McKenna, M. C, and S. K. Bell (1997). Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level. Columbia University Press. ISBN 023111012X. 
• "Paleocene mammals of the world". http://www.paleocene-mammals.de/index.htm. Retrieved November 7, 2005.