Tetracerotidae

Tetracerotidae is a small family of extinct mammals that lived during the Eocene epoch. The name Tetracerotidae refers to the four prominent horns that are a characteristic feature of its most well-known genus, Tetraceros. These animals were likely herbivores, with their dental structure suggesting a diet of plants. Fossil evidence indicates that Tetracerotidae were distributed across North America. They are part of the larger superorder Laurasiatheria, though their exact phylogenetic placement within this group has been subject to some debate among paleontologists. The fossils of Tetracerotidae, while not as abundant as some other Eocene mammals, have provided valuable insights into the diversity and evolution of early ungulate-like mammals. The family is believed to have gone extinct by the end of the Eocene, with no clear descendants identified in later geological periods. Studying Tetracerotidae helps researchers understand the ecological pressures and evolutionary adaptations that shaped mammalian fauna during this crucial period of diversification following the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event.