Adapisoriculidae is an extinct family of non-placental eutherian mammals present during the Paleogene and possibly the Late Cretaceous. They were once thought to be members of the order Erinaceomorpha,[7] closely related to the hedgehog family (Erinaceidae), because of their similar dentition, or to be basal Euarchontans.[8] They were also thought to be marsupials at one point. Most recent studies show them to be non-placental eutherians, however.[9]
Adapisoriculidae Temporal range: Late Cretaceous record[1]
Possible | |
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Jaw fragment of Bustylus marandati | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Clade: | Eutheria |
Family: | †Adapisoriculidae Van Valen (1967) |
Genera | |
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They were small mammals of about 15 cm long, with a tail of equal length. They were probably nocturnal, eating insects and fruits.
Deccanolestes and Sahnitherium from the Late Cretaceous of India may be Cretaceous members of Adapisoriculidae.