Kannemeyeriidae

Kannemeyeriidae is a family of extinct mammals that lived during the Eocene epoch, approximately 56 to 34 million years ago. They are known from fossils found in Europe, North America, and Asia. Kannemeyeriidae are characterized by their small size, typically ranging from a few centimeters to about 30 centimeters in length, and their primitive dental structure. The family is named after the genus Kannemeyeria, which was first described by the American paleontologist George Gaylord Simpson in 1930.

The family Kannemeyeriidae is divided into two subfamilies: Kannemeyerinae and Epoicotheriinae. Kannemeyerinae includes the type genus Kannemeyeria and other genera such as Epoicotherium and Epoicotherium. Epoicotheriinae includes genera such as Epoicotherium and Epoicotherium.

Kannemeyeriidae are believed to have been insectivorous, feeding on insects and other small invertebrates. Their small size and primitive dental structure suggest that they were adapted to a niche that was not occupied by larger mammals at the time. The family is considered to be a sister group to the order Insectivora, which includes modern-day mammals such as shrews, hedgehogs, and moles.

The fossil record of Kannemeyeriidae is relatively well-preserved, with numerous specimens found in Europe, North America, and Asia. However, the family is not well-represented in the fossil record, and much of our knowledge of their biology and ecology is based on inferences from their anatomy and the environments in which their fossils have been found.