Trigonodontidae

Trigonodontidae is an extinct family of herbivorous mammals that lived during the Paleocene epoch. These animals are known primarily from fossilized teeth, which give the family its name, meaning "three-toothed." The teeth are characterized by a triangular chewing surface, adapted for grinding plant material. Trigonodontids were relatively small to medium-sized mammals, with estimated body sizes varying among different species. Their skeletal remains are scarce, making detailed anatomical studies challenging. However, the dental morphology suggests a diet consisting of tough vegetation. The geographic distribution of trigonodontid fossils indicates they inhabited parts of North America and potentially Asia. The evolutionary relationships of Trigonodontidae within the broader mammalian tree are not fully resolved, though they are often placed within the order Multituberculata. Multituberculates were a diverse and successful group of mammals that survived for many millions of years, eventually becoming extinct by the late Paleocene or early Eocene. The precise ecological role and life habits of trigonodontids remain subjects of ongoing research and paleontological discovery.