Eocene mammals of Europe

Hyracotherium ( ; "hyrax-like beast") is an extinct genus of small (about 60 cm in length) perissodactyl ungulates that was found in the London Clay formation. This small, fox-sized animal is (for some scientists) considered to be the earliest known member of Equidae before the type species, H. leporinum, was reclassified as a palaeothere, a perissodactyl family related to both horses and brontotheres. The remaining species are now thought to belong to different genera, such as Eohippus, which had previously been synonymised with Hyracotherium.

Leptictidium is an extinct genus of small mammals that were likely bipedal. Comprising eight species, they resembled today's bilbies, bandicoots, and elephant shrews, and occupied a similar niche. They are especially interesting for their combination of characteristics typical of primitive eutherians with highly specialized adaptations, such as powerful hind legs and a long tail which aided in locomotion. They were omnivorous, their diet a combination of insects, lizards, frogs, and small mammals. Leptictidium and other leptictids are not placentals, but are non-placental eutherians, although

Propalaeotherium was an early genus of perissodactyl endemic to Europe and Asia during the early Eocene. There are currently six recognised species within the genus, with P. isselanum as the type species (named by Georges Cuvier in 1824).

Eurotamandua ("european Tamandua") is an extinct genus of mammal from extinct family Eurotamanduidae that lived during the middle Eocene.

Palaeotherium is an extinct genus of equoid that lived in Europe and possibly the Middle East from the Middle Eocene to the Early Oligocene. It is the type genus of the Palaeotheriidae, a group exclusive to the Palaeogene that was closest in relation to the Equidae, which contains horses plus their closest relatives and ancestors. Fossils of Palaeotherium were first described in 1782 by the French naturalist Robert de Lamanon and then closely studied by another French naturalist, Georges Cuvier, after 1798. Cuvier erected the genus in 1804 and recognized multiple species based on overall fossi

Coryphodon (from Greek , "point", and , "tooth", meaning peaked tooth, referring to "the development of the angles of the ridges into points [on the molars].") is an extinct genus of pantodonts of the family Coryphodontidae.

Anthracotherium (from Ancient Greek ἄνθραξ (ánthrax), meaning "coal", and θηρίον (theríon), meaning "beast") is an extinct genus of anthracotheriid artiodactyls characterized by having 44 teeth, with five semi-crescentic cusps on the crowns of the upper molars. The genus ranged from the middle Eocene period until the early Miocene, having a distribution throughout Eurasia probably even reaching South East Asia (Kalimantan and West Timor). Material subjectively assigned to Anthracotherium from Pakistan suggests the last species died out soon after the start of the Miocene.

Teilhardina (, ) is an extinct marmoset-like omomyid primate that lived in Europe, North America and Asia during the Early Eocene epoch, about 56-47 million years ago. The paleontologist George Gaylord Simpson named it after the French paleontologist, Jesuit and philosopher Teilhard de Chardin.

Macrocranion is a genus of extinct mammal from the Eocene epoch of Europe and North America. Exceptional fossils have been found in the Messel Pit of Germany. Macrocranion species are often described as forest-floor predators, about the size of small squirrels but with longer limbs. The genus is represented at the Messel Pit site by two species, M. tupaidon and M. tenerum. thumb|right|Restoration of M. tenerum M. tupaiodon had woolly fur with no spikes. Although possibly an omnivore, fossil remains indicate the specimen had eaten fish near the time of its death. This small animal was approxi

Eurohippus is an extinct genus of equoid ungulate. Its species were long considered part of Propalaeotherium and Lophiotherium. A pregnant specimen was described in 2015.

thumb|left|Restoration of Hyopsodus paulus

Kopidodon is an extinct genus of placental mammals from subfamily Paroxyclaeninae within family Paroxyclaenidae, that lived during the middle Eocene in Germany.

Godinotia is an extinct genus of strepsirrhine (wet-nosed primate) from the Eocene of Germany. It belongs to the order Adapiformes, a widespread early primate group distantly related to modern lemurs. Godinotia fossils are found in Middle Eocene strata of Geiseltal. The genus contains a single species, Godinotia neglecta, which was previously regarded as a species of Pronycticebus or Caenopithecus.

Palaeochiropteryx ( ) is an extinct genus of bat from the Middle Eocene of Europe and North America. It contains three very similar species – Palaeochiropteryx tupaiodon and Palaeochiropteryx spiegeli, both from the famous Messel Pit of Germany, as well as Palaeochiropteryx sambuceus from the Sheep Pass Formation (Nevada, United States). They are usually found complete and exceptionally preserved, even retaining the outlines of their fur, ears, and wing membranes.

Anoplotherium is the type genus of the extinct Palaeogene artiodactyl family Anoplotheriidae, which was endemic to Western Europe. It lived from the Late Eocene to the earliest Oligocene. It was the fifth fossil mammal genus to be described with official taxonomic authority, with a history extending back to 1804 when its fossils from Montmartre in Paris, France were first described by the French naturalist Georges Cuvier. Discoveries of incomplete skeletons of A. commune in 1807 led Cuvier to thoroughly describe unusual features for which there are no modern analogues. His drawn skeletal

Elomeryx is an extinct genus of artiodactyl ungulate, and is among the earliest known anthracotheres. The genus was extremely widespread, first being found in Asia in the middle Eocene, in Europe during the latest Eocene, and having spread to North America by the early Oligocene. The closest living relatives of the Elomeryx are said suids, and hippopotamids (hippopotami and cetaceans). thumb|left|Restoration of E. armatus Elomeryx was about in body length, and had a long, vaguely horse-like head. It had small tusks which it used to uproot plants, and spoon-shaped incisors ideal for pulling an

Lophiodon is an extinct genus of perissodactyls and the type genus of the Lophiodontidae, one of two major clades of the extinct suborder Ancylopoda. It, like the rest of the family, was endemic to western Europe and lived from the Early to Middle Eocene. Fossils of Lophiodon were first studied in 1804 when the French palaeontologist Georges Cuvier thought that they belonged to tapirs. After initially classifying the formally recognized species to Palaeotherium in 1812, Cuvier named the genus in 1822 based on the hill-like cusps on its molars. Many fossil species were named and assigned to Lop

Necrolemur is a small bodied omomyid with body mass estimations ranging from . Necrolemur’s teeth feature broad basins and blunt cusps, suggesting their diet consisted of mostly soft fruit, though examination of microwear patterns suggests that populations from lower latitudes also consumed insects and gums.

Halitherium is a dubious genus of extinct dugongid sea cow that arose in the late Eocene, then became extinct during the early Oligocene. Its fossils are common in European shales. Inside its flippers were finger bones that did not stick out. Halitherium also had the remnants of back legs, which did not show externally. However, it did have a basic femur, joined to a reduced pelvis. Halitherium also had elongated ribs, presumably to increase lung capacity to provide fine control of buoyancy.

Lesmesodon ("tooth from Messel") is an extinct genus of placental mammals from extinct clade Proviverrinae within extinct superfamily Hyaenodontoidea (in extinct order Hyaenodonta), that lived during the Early to Middle Eocene. It was found in France and in the Messel Pit in Germany.

Heterohyus is an extinct genus of apatemyid from the early to late Eocene. A small, tree-dwelling creature with elongated fore- and middle fingers, in these regards it somewhat resembled a modern-day aye-aye.

Diacodexis is an extinct genus of small herbivorous mammals belonging to the family Diacodexeidae that lived in North America and Europe from 55.4 mya to 46.2 mya, existing for approximately .

Paramys is an extinct genus of rodents from North America, Europe, and Asia. It is one of the oldest genera of rodents known and probably lived in trees. While the genus name literally means "near a mouse", it coexisted with Thisbemys, a similar rodent, thus yielding a reference to Pyramus and Thisbe.

Basiloterus is an extinct genus of late-Eocene archaeocete whale from the Drazinda Formation in southwestern Punjab, Pakistan and possibly also the Barton Group (originally Barton Beds) of England. Known from two isolated lumbar vertebrae, the elongated nature of these elements has been taken as possible evidence that Basiloterus was a close relative of the better-known Basilosaurus. This was also the reasoning behind its name, which roughly translates to "another king". However, publications since then not only lead to some major changes of the internal relationships within Basilosauridae but

Palaeonictis ("ancient weasel") is an extinct genus of placental mammals from extinct subfamily Palaeonictinae within extinct family Oxyaenidae, that lived in Europe and North America from the late Paleocene to the early Eocene.

Vassacyon ("wasatchian dog") is an extinct genus of placental mammals from clade Carnivoraformes, that lived in North America and Europe from the late Paleocene to early Eocene. It is considered the largest of the early Eocene mammals.

thumb|right|Restoration thumb|↑Pholidocercus hassiacus von Koenigswald and Storch 1983 with partially preserved fur and long, thick, scaled tail. Paratype of the publication

Proviverra ("before civet") is an extinct genus of placental mammals from the extinct clade Proviverrinae within the extinct superfamily Hyaenodontoidea, itself within the extinct order Hyaenodonta, that lived during the Middle Eocene in Europe.

Paroodectes ("near Oodectes") is an extinct genus of placental mammals from clade Carnivoraformes, that lived in Europe during the middle Eocene.

Buxolestes ("robber from Bouxwiller") is an extinct genus of semi-aquatic mammals belonging to the subfamily Pantolestinae within family Pantolestidae. Species in this genus lived during the middle Eocene. They are known from fossils found in the Bracklesham Group and Wittering Formation of England, at the Messel Pit in Germany and in Bouxwiller, France.

Europolemur is a genus of adapiform primates that lived in Europe during the middle Eocene.

Nyctitheriidae is a family of extinct eulipotyphlan insectivores known from the Paleocene and Eocene epochs of North America and Asia and persisting into the Oligocene of Europe. Several genera, including Nyctitherium, Paradoxonycteris, and Wyonycteris, have initially been described as bats, although the family is more frequently placed in the order Eulipotyphla.

Crivadiatherium is an extinct genus of palaeoamasiid mammal from the middle Eocene to early Oligocene of Eurasia. Fossil remains—teeth and mandible fragments—are known from the Crivadia site in the Hațeg depression, Romania.

Archaeonycteris is an archaic bat genus whose fossilised remains have been found in Germany, France, England and India.

Sobrarbesiren (meaning "siren from Sobrarbe") is a genus of extinct sirenian that lived in the Eocene, about 47 million years ago. The type and only species is S. cardieli, known from a multitude of specimens from the Spanish Pyrenees. Sobrarbesiren was a medium-sized animal, long and still retaining both pairs of limbs. Although initially thought to be amphibious, later studies instead suggest that they would have been fully aquatic and been selective sea grass browsers. Unlike modern dugongs and manatees, they likely lacked a tail fluke, although it would have appeared horizontally flattened

Apatemys is a member of the family Apatemyidae, an extinct group of small and insectivorous placental mammals that lived in the Paleogene of North America, India, and Europe. While the number of genera and species is less agreed upon, it has been determined that two apatemyid genera, Apatemys and Sinclairella, existed sequentially during the Eocene in North America. The genus Apatemys, living as far back as 50.3 million years ago (mya), existed through part of the Wasatchian and persisted through the Duchesnean, and Sinclairella followed, existing from the Duchesnean through the Arikareean. Ex

Pliolophus is an extinct equid that lived in the Early Eocene of Britain.

genus of mammals (fossil)

Peratherium is a genus of metatherian mammals in the family Herpetotheriidae that lived in Europe and Africa from the Early Eocene to the Early Miocene. Species include the following: Peratherium africanum Peratherium antiquum Peratherium bretouense Peratherium cayluxi Peratherium constans Peratherium cuvieri Peratherium elegans Peratherium lavergnense Peratherium matronense Peratherium monspeliense Peratherium perrierense Peratherium sudrei

Messelogale ("weasel from Messel") is an extinct genus of placental mammals from clade Carnivoraformes, that lived in Europe during the middle Eocene.

Leptadapis is an extinct genus of adapiform primate that lived in Europe during the middle Eocene. Fossils of the genus have been found in the Escanilla Formation of Spain, at the sites of La Bouffie and Perrière in France, and at Egerkingen in Switzerland.

Paramiacis ("near Miacis") is an extinct genus of placental mammals from clade Carnivoraformes, that lived in Europe from the middle to late Eocene. Species P. exilis and P. teilhardi were long believed to be the same species (P. exilis), with differences that were only represented as an example of sexual dimorphism.

The Gelocidae are an extinct family of hornless ruminantia that are estimated to have lived during the Eocene and Oligocene epochs, from 36 MYA to 6 MYA. The family generally includes ruminants with dental traits of both the Tragulina and Pecora, making it a notorious wastebasket taxon with unresolved affinities.

Amphirhagatherium is an extinct genus of artiodactyl that lived in Northern Europe during the late Eocene to Early Oligocene.

Pelycodus (from Ancient Greek πέλυξ (pélux), “bowl” + ὀδούς (odoús), “tooth”) is an extinct genus of adapiform primate that lived during the early Eocene (Wasatchian) period in Europe and North America, particularly Wyoming and New Mexico. It is very closely related to Cantius and may even be its subgenus. It may also have given rise to the Middle Eocene Uintan primate Hesperolemur, although this is controversial. From mass estimates based on the first molar, the two species, P. jarrovii and P. danielsae, weighed 4.5 kg and 6.3 kg respectively and were frugivores with an arboreal, qu

Amphiperatherium is an extinct genus of metatherian mammal, closely related to marsupials. It ranged from the Early Eocene to the Middle Miocene in Europe. It is the most recent metatherian known from the continent.

Boritia ("animal from La Borie") is an extinct genus of placental mammals from extinct family Hyaenodontidae, that lived in France during the early Eocene epoch (Ypresian stage). It is a monotypic genus that contains the species B. duffaudi.

Anchomomys is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in Europe and Africa during the middle Eocene.

Agerinia is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in Europe during the early Eocene. Fossils have been found in the Grès d'Assignan, Lignites de Soissonais, and Calcare d'Agel Formations of France, the Corçà and Escanilla Formations of Spain and the Kuldana Formation of Pakistan.

Preregidens ("frontal royal tooth") is an extinct genus of placental mammals from extinct family Hyaenodontidae, found in what is now France. It lived during the early Eocene epoch (Ypresian stage). It is a monotypic genus that contains the species P. langebadrae.

Catodontherium is an extinct genus of Palaeogene artiodactyl belonging to the family Anoplotheriidae. It was endemic to Western Europe and had a temporal range exclusive to the middle Eocene, although its earliest appearance depends on whether C. argentonicum is truly a species of Catodontherium. It was first named Catodus by the French palaeontologist Charles Depéret in 1906, who created two species for the genus and later changed the genus name to Catodontherium in 1908. The Swiss palaeontologist Hans Georg Stehlin renamed one species and classified two other newly erected species to Catodon

Ailuravus is a genus of prehistoric rodents in the family Ischyromyidae.

Prodissopsalis ("before Dissopsalis") is an extinct genus of placental mammals from extinct family Hyaenodontidae, that lived in Europe during the middle Eocene. P. eocaenicus fossils are known from France and the site of Geiseltal in Germany. P. jimenezi is known from Mazaterón in Spain.

Xiphodon (from Ancient Greek ξίφος (xíphos), meaning "sword", and ὀδούς (odoús), meaning "tooth") is the type genus of the extinct Palaeogene artiodactyl family Xiphodontidae. It, like other xiphodonts, was endemic to Western Europe and lived from the Middle Eocene up to the earliest Oligocene. Fossils from Montmartre in Paris, France that belonged to X. gracilis were first described by the French naturalist Georges Cuvier in 1804. Although he assigned the species to Anoplotherium, he recognized that it differed from A. commune by its dentition and limb bones, later moving it to its own subgen

Bothriodon (Greek: "pit" (botros), "teeth" (odontes)) is an extinct genus of anthracotheriid artiodactyl from the late Eocene to early Oligocene of Asia, Europe, and North America.

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