Bussipeatidae

Bussipeatidae is a family of small, extinct mammals that lived during the Eocene epoch, approximately 56 to 34 million years ago. They are known from fossil remains found in Europe and North America. Bussipeatidae is characterized by its small size, typically weighing less than 1 kilogram, and its distinctive dental structure. The family includes several genera, such as Bussipeatus, which is the type genus, and Ectoconus. These mammals had a diverse diet, including both herbivorous and carnivorous elements, as indicated by their varied dental morphology. The family is notable for its early evolution of specialized dental adaptations, which suggest a degree of ecological diversification. Bussipeatidae is considered a basal member of the order Laurasiatheria, which includes modern mammals such as ungulates, carnivorans, and primates. The family's extinction is thought to be related to the global cooling and environmental changes that occurred during the Eocene-Oligocene transition.