Palaeoryctes
Temporal range: Middle Paleocene–Late Paleocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: †Palaeoryctida
Family: †Palaeoryctidae
Genus: †Palaeoryctes

Palaeoryctes (Greek: "old" (palaeos), "digger" (oryctes)[1]) is an extinct genus of mammal from Middle to Late Palaeocene of North America.

Palaeoryctes resembled a modern shrew, being slender and sharp-nosed, with typical insectivore teeth. It was around 12.5 centimetres (4.9 in) long, and weighed around 20 to 60 grams (0.71 to 2.12 oz). The molars of Palaeoryctes had little function other than piercing.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Glossary. American Museum of Natural History". Archived from the original on 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 212. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.


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