What is Leptictidium?
{{Taxobox | name = ''Leptictidium'' | fossil_range = [[Cretaceous]] to [[Eocene]] period | image = Leptictidium auderiense skeleton.JPG | image_width = 200px | image_caption = ''Leptictidium auderiense'' | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | subclassis = [[Theria]] | ordo = [[Leptictida]] | familia = [[Pseudorhyncocyonidae]] | genus = '''''Leptictidium''''' | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = ''[[Leptictidium auderiense]]''<br> ''[[Leptictidium nasutum]]''<br> ''[[Leptictidium tobieni]]''<br> ''[[Leptictidium sigei]]''<br> ''[[Leptictidium ginsburgi]]''<br> ''Leptictidium'' aff. ''sigei'' }} '''Leptictidium''' (meaning delicate [[weasel]]) was a [[genus]] of small prehistoric [[eutheria]]n from [[Eocene]] period. this extinct species of [[mammal]] lived alongside the [[dinosaur]]s, but died out when the tropical forests opened up. 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]]. {{biology-stub}} [[category:Fossils]] [[Category:Extinct mammals]]