Xiphodontidae

Xiphodontidae is an extinct family of herbivorous even-toed ungulates (order Artiodactyla), endemic to Europe during the Eocene 40.4—33.9 million years ago, existing for about 7.5 million years.^[1] Paraxiphodon suggests that they survived into the Lower Oligocene, at least.^[2]

Xiphodontidae Temporal range: 40.4–28.1 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Drawing of Xiphodon by Georges Cuvier
Life restoration of Xiphodon
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	†Xiphodontidae Flower, 1883
Genera
†Dichodon †Haplomeryx †Paraxiphodon †Xiphodon

Description

The molar teeth of xiphodontids are brachydont (low crowned) and selenodont.^[3]

Taxonomy

The Xiphodontidae were named by Flower (1883). It was assigned to Artiodactyla by Cope (1889); to Xiphodontoidea by Hooker (1986); and to Tylopoda by Carroll (1988).^[4][5] A 2020 study suggested them to be related to ruminants, as well as other Europe-endemic artiodactyls like Cainotheriidae and Anoplotheriidae.^[6]