Leptictidium
Leptictidium (meaning delicate weasel) was a genus of small prehistoric eutherian from Eocene period. this extinct species of mammal lived alongside the dinosaurs, but died out when the tropical forests opened up.
| Leptictidium Temporal range: Cretaceous to Eocene period | |
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| Leptictidium auderiense | |
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| Order: | Leptictida |
| Family: | Pseudorhyncocyonidae |
| Genus: | Leptictidium |
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Leptictidium auderiense | |
Leptictidium had long hind legs, and probably used only those two legs when moving fast. Whether it hopped on two legs or ran bipedally is still a matter of debate. It had a long, bare tail which acted as a counterbalance, and a long, mobile snout to help it find its prey.
The leptictids were found right across Eurasia. Leptictidium itself was a specialised hopper with the best preserved specimens found in the Messel shales of Germany.