Arsinoitheriidae
| Arsinoitheriidae Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
| Skeleton of Arsinoitherium zitteli | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Embrithopoda |
| Family: | †Arsinoitheriidae Andrews, 1904 |
| Genera | |
Arsinoitheriidae is a family of mammals belonging to the extinct order Embrithopoda. Remains have been found in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Romania. Arsinotheriids were closely related to hyraxes, elephants, sirenians, and possibly desmostylians (as part of the superorder Afrotheria). The name of the clade honors the wife of Ptolemy II, Queen Arsinoe II of Egypt, as the first fossils of Arsinoitherium were found near the ruins of her palace.