Hapalodectidae (literal translation 'soft biters': hapalos ('soft, tender'), dêktês ('biter')) is an extinct family of relatively small-bodied (1–8 kg (2.2–17.6 lb))[1] mesonychian placental mammals from the Paleocene and Eocene of North America and Asia.

[2] Hapalodectids differ from the larger and better-known mesonychids by having teeth specialized for cutting (presumably meat), while the teeth of other mesonychids, such as Mesonyx or Sinonyx, are more specialized for crushing bones.

[1] Hapalodectids were once considered a subfamily of the Mesonychidae,[3] but the discovery of a skull of Hapalodectes hetangensis showed additional differences justifying placement in a distinct family.

[4] In particular, H. hetangensis has a postorbital bar closing the back of the orbit,[4] a feature lacking in mesonychids.

The skeleton of hapalodectids is poorly known, and of the postcranial elements, only the humerus has been described.