Euclidfelidae

Euclidfelidae is a hypothetical family of extinct mammals that has been proposed to include early members of the Feliformia, a suborder of carnivoran mammals. The concept of Euclidfelidae is based on certain anatomical features observed in fossil specimens, particularly those from the Paleogene period. These proposed features suggest a transitional form between earlier, more generalized carnivores and the later, more specialized feliforms, including true cats.

The taxonomic placement of Euclidfelidae is debated among paleontologists. Some researchers consider it a distinct family, while others view the fossils attributed to it as belonging to early representatives of established feliform families or even ancestral to the broader Carnivora order. The limited fossil evidence and the incomplete nature of many specimens make definitive classification challenging.

Key fossils that have been considered within the context of Euclidfelidae include species found in North America and Eurasia. These early carnivores exhibited a mosaic of primitive and derived traits. Primitive characteristics might include a less specialized dentition and a more generalized skeletal structure, while derived features could hint at adaptations for predatory behavior that would become more pronounced in later feliforms. Further discoveries and detailed analyses of existing fossils are needed to clarify the evolutionary position and validity of Euclidfelidae.