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Nycteroleteridae is a family of (extinct early reptiles) from the Middle Permian to Late Permian of Russia and North America. They are sometimes classified as a sister group to (but see Classification). The group includes the genera Macroleter, Bashkyroleter, "Bashkyroleter" mesensis, Nycteroleter, Emeroleter, and probably Rhipaeosaurus. They were carnivore, and occasionally ate insects. The group was most common in European Russia, with only a few fossils in North America. One fossil has also been found in Africa, but this is the only one from Gondwana.
However, there are some characteristic features of the Nycteroleteridae. They have a deeply Cutting otic notch, postParietal bone bones that enter the Parietal eye opening, regular circular pits in the skull, and a row of Palate from the interpterygoid vacuity to the edge of the choana.
Examination of the nycteroleterids' middle ear bones and comparison with living showed that they probably had efficient impedance-matching hearing. This suggests that they may have been active at night or in dim-light environments. They are thought to have been carnivorous or Insectivore, but Rhipaeosaurus may have been an omnivore.
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