Ocepeia

Ocepeia Temporal range: Paleocene, 61–57 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Ocepeia daouiensis skull restoration
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Placentalia
Superorder:	Afrotheria
Clade:	Paenungulatomorpha
Family:	†Ocepeiidae Gheerbrant, 2014
Genus:	†Ocepeia Gheerbrant & Sudre, 2001
Type species
Ocepeia daouiensis Gheerbrant & Sudre, 2001
Species
O. daouiensis Gheerbrant & Sudre, 2001 O. grandis Gheerbrant, 2014

Ocepeia is an extinct genus of afrotherian mammal that lived in present-day Morocco during the middle Paleocene epoch, approximately 60 million years ago. First named and described in 2001, the type species is O. daouiensis from the Selandian stage of Morocco's Ouled Abdoun Basin. A second, larger species, O. grandis, is known from the Thanetian, a slightly younger stage in the same area. In life, the two species are estimated to have weighed about 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) and 10 kg (22 lb), respectively, and are believed to have been specialized leaf-eaters. The fossil skulls of Ocepeia are the oldest known afrotherian skulls, and the best-known of any Paleocene mammal in Africa.P

Ocepeia was initially grouped with the archaic ungulates known as "condylarths", but Ocepeia shares several features with primitive paenungulates (a group including elephants, hyraxes, sea cows and extinct relatives), but some analyses suggest it is more closely related to Afroinsectiphilia (a group containing aardvarks, golden moles, and tenrecs). As such, it may represent a transitional stage in the evolution of paenungulates from insectivore-like mammals. Unusual features of Ocepeia include skull bones with many air-spaces, and teeth and jaws reminiscent of those of simian primates. Ocepeia is distinct enough from other groups that it is placed in its own family, Ocepeiidae.

Ocepeia lived at a time when northwest Africa was at the intersection of the Atlantic Ocean and the ancient Tethys Ocean, and much of the area was flooded by shallow, warm inland seas. Ocepeia fossils are associated with diverse sharks, birds, and marine reptiles, and a small number of early mammals, including other condylarths and early proboscideans. The early appearance and specialized features of Ocepeia suggest afrotherians originated and diversified within Africa, contrary to theories suggesting a more northern origin.