pantodont

Pantodont is an extinct order of prehistoric placental mammals. These animals, which lived from the Paleocene to the Eocene epochs, were characterized by their large size, robust build, and distinctive molar teeth. The name "pantodont" itself derives from Greek words meaning "all teeth," referring to the continuous row of molars found in their jaws.

Fossil evidence suggests that pantodonts were herbivores, with their dentition adapted for grinding tough plant material. They likely occupied a range of ecological niches, from forest dwellers to more open-habitat grazers. The most well-known genus within this order is Coryphodon, a large, hippopotamus-like creature that is a common find in Eocene deposits. Other genera include Barylambda and Uintatherium, though the latter is sometimes classified in its own order, Dinocerata, due to certain unique cranial features.

Pantodonts are considered among the earliest large mammals to evolve after the K-Pg extinction event that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs. Their diversification and subsequent extinction reflect the changing environmental conditions and competitive pressures of the early Cenozoic era. The exact evolutionary relationships of pantodonts to other mammal groups are still a subject of ongoing research, but they are generally placed within the broader supercohort Laurasiatheria. Their presence in the fossil record provides important insights into the recovery and diversification of mammalian life in the Paleogene.