Miacis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MiacisTemporal range: Palaeocene to late Eocene
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Subphylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Superorder: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: |
Miacidae
|
| Genus: |
Miacis
Cope, 1872
|
Miacis was a small, extinct animal. It belonged to a group called Miacidae. These animals were early relatives of today's carnivores, like cats and dogs.
Miacis lived a long time ago, about 50 to 60 million years ago. They were small mammals that lived in forests. They were good at climbing trees.
Contents
About Miacis
Miacis was a small predator. It ate other smaller animals. These included small mammals, reptiles, and birds. It might have also eaten eggs and fruits. This means it was an omnivore.
What They Looked Like
Miacis had 44 teeth. This was a common number for early mammals. Their brains were quite large compared to their body size. This suggests they were smart. They might have had flexible ways of behaving.
Where and When They Lived
Miacis lived during the Paleocene and Eocene epochs. These were periods after the dinosaurs died out. They lived in forests, likely in what is now North America.
Their Place in History
Scientists believe miacids are very early members of the Carnivora group. This group includes all modern meat-eating mammals. Some Miacis species are thought to be direct ancestors of today's carnivores.
See also
In Spanish: Miacis para niños
