Spalacotheriidae is a family of extinct mammals belonging to the paraphyletic group 'Symmetrodonta'. They lasted from the Early Cretaceous to the Campanian in North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa.
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 in the jaw, indicating that they had a modern ear anatomy.
Genera Akidolestes Infernolestes Spalacotherium Symmetrolestes Spalacolestinae Aliaga Heishanlestes Lactodens Shalbaatar Spalacolestes Spalacotheridium Spalacotheroides Symmetrodontoides Yaverlestes
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