Vulpterrians

Vulpterrians are a group of extinct mammals that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 99 to 93 million years ago. They are known from a single species, Vulpterrus crassidens, which was discovered in the Hell Creek Formation of North Dakota, USA. Vulpterrians are notable for their unique combination of features, including a small body size, a long, narrow snout, and a distinctive set of teeth.

The teeth of Vulpterrians are characterized by a unique pattern of wear, with the molars showing a distinctive "V" shape. This pattern is thought to have been caused by the animal's diet, which is believed to have consisted of hard-shelled prey, such as insects or small crustaceans. The long, narrow snout of Vulpterrians is also thought to have been an adaptation for feeding on these types of prey.

Vulpterrians are classified as members of the order Multituberculata, which is a diverse group of mammals that first appeared during the Late Triassic period. Multituberculates are characterized by their unique dental structure, which includes a complex set of molars that are adapted for grinding and crushing food. Vulpterrians are thought to have been one of the earliest members of this group, and their discovery has provided valuable insights into the evolution of multituberculate mammals.

Despite their unique features, Vulpterrians are not well-known or widely studied, and much remains unknown about their biology and behavior. However, their discovery has helped to fill in gaps in our understanding of the evolution of mammals during the Late Cretaceous period.