Plesiadapis

Taxobox
name = "Plesiadapis"
fossil_range = late Paleocene to early Eocenecite book | author = McKenna, M. C, and S. K. Bell | year = 1997 | title = Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level | publisher = Columbia University Press | id = ISBN 023111012X]

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image_width = 200px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = †Plesiadapiformes
superfamilia = †Plesiadapoidea
familia = †Plesiadapidae
genus = †"Plesiadapis"
genus_authority = Gervais, 1877
type_species = †"Plesiadapis tricuspidens"
subdivision_ranks = Paleospeciescite journal | author = Gingerich, P.D. | year = 1976 | title = Cranial anatomy and evolution of early Tertiary Plesiadapidae (Mammalia, Primates) | journal = University of Michigan Papers on Paleontology | volume = 15 | issue = | pages = 1–141 | url = http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/48615] cite journal | author = Rose, K.D. | year = 1981 | title = The Clarkforkian Land-Mammal Age and mammalian faunal composition across the Paleocene-Eocene boundary | journal = University of Michigan Papers on Paleontology | volume = 26 | issue = | pages = 1–197 | url = http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/48626]
subdivision = †"Plesiadapis walbeckensis" Russell, 1964
†"Plesiadapis remensis" Lemoine, 1887
†"Plesiadapis tricuspidens" Gervais, 1877
†"Plesiadapis russelli" Gingerich, 1976
†"Plesiadapis insignis" (Piton, 1940)
†"Plesiadapis praecursor" Gingerich, 1975
†"Plesiadapis anceps" Simpson, 1936
†"Plesiadapis rex" (Gidley, 1923)
†"Plesiadapis gingerichi" Rose, 1981
†"Plesiadapis churchilli" Gingerich, 1975
†"Plesiadapis fodinatus" Jepsen, 1930
†"Plesiadapis dubius" (Matthew, 1915)
†"Plesiadapis simonsi" Gingerich, 1975
†"Plesiadapis cookei" Jepsen, 1930

"Plesiadapis" is one of the oldest known primate-like mammal species which existed about 58-55 mya in North America and Europe. It looked a little like a squirrel. "Plesiadapis" still had claws and its eyes were located on each side of the head, making them faster on the ground than on the top of the trees, but they begin to spend long times on lower branches of trees, feeding on fruits and leaves.

References

External links

* [http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/users/haaramo/Metazoa/Deuterostoma/Chordata/Synapsida/Eutheria/Plesiadapiformes/Plesiadapidae.htm Mikko's Phylogeny Archive]