| Smilodectes | |
|---|---|
| |
| An artist's illustration of Smilodectes gracilis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Strepsirrhini |
| Family: | †Notharctidae |
| Subfamily: | †Notharctinae |
| Genus: | †Smilodectes Wortman, 1903 |
| Referred species | |
| |
Smilodectes is an extinct genus of primate that lived in Wyoming. It possesses a post-orbital bar and grasping thumbs and toes. Smilodectes has a small cranium size and the foramen magnum was located at the back of the skull, on the occipital bone.
Named species[]
Smilodectes skeleton
There are three named species: Smilodectes gracilis, Smilodectes gingerichi and Smilodectes mcgrewi.
Smilodectes gracilis[]
Smilodectes gracilis was an adapiformes primate from the early Eocene, some 55 million years ago. S. gracilis was found on the land mass of North America and based on its dental morphology, S. gracilis was a folivore.[1]
S. gracilis had a dental formula similar to extant lemurs and had a relatively short snout, with rounded frontal bone as compared to other nothactines.[1] This species lacked symphyseal fusion[2] and this species of primate had comparatively reduced olfactory bulbs and a more expanded visual cortex.[1] This suggests that S. gracilis was a diurnal species.[1] S. gracilis had a cranial capacity of 9.5 cc.[2] It is thought that S. gracilis had an average body mass of around 2.1 kilograms.[1] Based upon its postcranial skeleton, S. gracilis was a vertical clinger and leaper.[2]
In popular culture[]
Some have speculated that the lemurs from Disney's Dinosaur (movie) are Smilodectes, however they appear to resemble modern Propithecus verreauxi.
Gallery[]
