Leptictids
Leptictids were a group of small to medium-sized mammals that existed during the Late Cretaceous and Paleocene epochs, spanning approximately 80 to 55 million years ago. They are notable for their unique evolutionary position, representing one of the earliest diverging lineages within the mammalian clade known as *Trechnotheria*, which also includes modern placental mammals. Fossil evidence of leptictids has been found primarily in Europe, Asia, and North America, with the most well-preserved remains coming from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia and the Paleocene of Europe.
Leptictids were generally small, ranging from the size of a shrew to that of a small dog,
The exact classification of leptictids has been a subject of debate among paleontologists. Initially thought to
Leptictids went extinct during the Paleocene, likely due to competition with more successful mammalian groups or