Spalacotheriidae is a family of extinct mammals belonging to the paraphyletic group '
Symmetrodonta
Symmetrodonta is a group of Mesozoic mammals and mammal-like synapsids characterized by the triangular aspect of the molars when viewed from above, and the absence of a well-developed talonid. The traditional group of 'symmetrodonts' ranges in a ...
Campanian
The Campanian is the fifth of six ages of the Late Cretaceous Epoch on the geologic timescale of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS). In chronostratigraphy, it is the fifth of six stages in the Upper Cretaceous Series. Campani ...
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...
,
Asia
Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...
and
North Africa
North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...
.
Spalacotheriids are characterised by having molar teeth with three molar cusps sitting at acute angles to one another.Martin, T., 2018. 6. Mesozoic mammals—early mammalian diversity and ecomorphological adaptations. In Mammalian evolution, diversity and systematics (pp. 199-300). De Gruyter. The shape of their teeth as well as their long lower jaw indicate a carnivorous/ insectivorous diet.
A sub-group of Spalacotheriidae, the spalacolestines, lack a
Meckelian groove The Meckelian groove (or Meckel's groove, Meckelian fossa, or Meckelian foramen, or Meckelian canal) is an opening in the medial (inner) surface of the mandible (lower jaw) which exposes the Meckelian cartilage.modern ear anatomy.
Genera
* ''
Akidolestes
''Akidolestes'' is an extinct genus of mammals from the family Spalacotheriidae, spalacotheriid.
Although Akidolestes do not have any modern relatives, they are early mammal, mammals related to Theria, therians (the subclass containing marsupi ...