Astrapotheria

Astrapotheria is an extinct order of mammals that lived during the Paleogene period, from approximately 66 to 23 million years ago. They are characterized by their unique dental structure, which includes a combination of incisors, canines, and molars, as well as a distinctive cheek tooth pattern. Astrapotheres are believed to have been omnivorous, feeding on a variety of plant and animal materials.

The order Astrapotheria is divided into two suborders: Astrapotheria and Typotheria. Astrapotheres are further divided into two families: Astrapotheriidae and Typotheriidae. Astrapotheriidae includes the genera Astrapotherium and Typotherium, while Typotheriidae includes the genera Typotherium and Typotheriidae.

Astrapotheres are known from fossil remains found in North America, Europe, and Asia. They are believed to have been widespread during the Paleogene period, but their exact distribution and ecology are still not fully understood. Astrapotheres are thought to have gone extinct around the same time as the non-avian dinosaurs, suggesting that they may have been affected by the same environmental changes that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Astrapotheres are an important group of mammals for understanding the evolution of the order Rodentia, as they are believed to be the closest living relatives of the rodents. They are also of interest to paleontologists and evolutionary biologists due to their unique dental structure and the fact that they are one of the few groups of mammals that are known to have gone extinct during the Paleogene period.