Synonym: Dyspternidae Kretzoi 1943
Parent taxon: Eutheria according to C. S. Scott et al. 2002
Sister taxa: Acreodi, Acristatherium, Arctocyonidae, Asioryctitheria, Bibymalagasia, Cimolesta, Deltatherium, Endotherium, Eomaia, Gliriformes, Holoclemensiidae, Horolodectes, Juramaia, Kennalestoidea, Leptictida, Mingotheriidae, Mutica, Nanocuridae, Notopterna, Palaeoryctidae, Paleotomus, Paranyctoides, Paraxonia, Placentalia, Sahnitherium, Sazlestes, Taeniodonta, Therictoidea, Zalambdalestidae, Zhelestidae, Plantigradae, Digitigradae, Rosores, Oligodontae, Edentulae, Tesserachenae, Trichenae, Monochenae, Hydrophorae, Ruminantes
Subtaxa: Androconus, Bessoecetor, Bogdia, Buxolestes, Chadronia, Cryptopithecus, Cymaprimadon, Fordonia, Niphredil, Pagonomus, Palaeosinopa, Pantolestes, Pantolestinae, Pantomimus, Thelysia
Ecology: amphibious piscivore-durophage