Notharctus

Notharctus
Temporal range: Middle Eocene–Late Eocene
Notharctus tenebrosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Primates
Suborder:Strepsirrhini
Family:†Notharctidae
Subfamily:†Notharctinae
Genus:†Notharctus
Leidy, 1870
Species

Notharctus is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in North America and Europe during the late to middle Eocene.[1]

The body form of Notharctus is similar to that of modern rats. Its fingers were elongated for clamping onto branches, including the development of a thumb. Its spine is flexible and the animal was about 40 centimetres (16 in) in length, excluding the long tail.[2]

There were at least four different Notharctus species.[1] Fossils from at least seven other potential species have also been discovered.

Notharctus osborni skull

References

  1. 1 2 Gebo 2002, p. 25.
  2. ↑ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 287. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.

Literature cited

  • Gebo, D.L. (2002). "Adapiformes: Phylogeny and adaptation". In Hartwig, W.C. The Primate Fossil Record. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-08141-2. OCLC 47254191.
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