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Paleocene Mammals of the World: Condylarths

Condylarths: Archaic hoofed mammals The order Condylarthra is one of the most characteristic groups of Paleocene mammals, and it illustrates well the evolutionary level of the Paleocene mammal fauna. When compared to the mammal fauna of today, condylarths are relatively unspecialized placental mammals. However, in comparison to their insectivorous ancestors, members of the Condylarthra show the first signs of being omnivores or even herbivores. Since larger herbivores were absent on land after the extinction of the dinosaurs, this shift in diet triggered the tremendous evolutionary radiation of the condylarths that we can observe throughout the Paleocene. Result of this radiation are the different groups of ungulates (or "hoofed mammals") that form the dominant large herbivores in most Cenozoic animal communities on land, except on the island continent of Australia. The term ungulate refers here to a subgroup of placental mammals (the Ungulata) that are descendants of a common ancestor, the most primitive condylarth. Among recent mammals, the even- and odd-toed ungulates, hyraxes, elephants, aardvarks, sea cows and whales are traditionally regarded as members of the Ungulata (but see discussion at the end of this article). Besides condylarths several extinct groups must be added to the Ungulata, especially the endemic South American orders of ungulates. Although many ungulates have hoofs, this feature does not define the Ungulata. Some condylarths indeed have small hoofs on their feet, but the most primitive forms are clawed. On the other hand, hoofs have been independently acquired by groups that do not belong to the Ungulata, such as the extinct

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