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

Notharctus
Temporal range: Early-Mid Eocene (Wasatchian-Uintan)
~50.3–40.4 Ma
Notharctus tenebrosus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family: Notharctidae
Subfamily: Notharctinae
Genus: Notharctus
Leidy, 1870
Species
Synonyms
  • Hipposyus Leidy 1872
  • Limnotherium Marsh 1871
  • Telmalestes Marsh 1872
  • Thinolestes Marsh 1872
  • Tomitherium Cope 1872

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.[citation needed]

Notharctus osborni skull

References edit

  1. ^ a b 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.

Bibliography edit

External links edit