Smilodectes gracilis

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Smilodectes gracilis
Fossil range: Early Eocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Nothactidae
Subfamily: Nothactinae
Genus: Smilodectes
Species: S. gracilis
Binomial name
Smilodectes gracilis
(Marsh, 1871a)

Smilodectes gracilis was an adapiformes primate from the early Eocene, some 55 million years ago. Smilodectes gracilis was found on the land mass of North America and based on its dental morphology, Smilodectes gracilis was a folivore.

[edit] Morphology

Smilodectes gracilis had a dental formula of 2:1:4:3 on both the upper and lower jaw and had a relatively short snout, with rounded frontal bone as compared to other nothactines. This species lacked symphyseal fusion and this species of primate had comparatively reduced olfactory bulbs and a more expanded visual cortex. This suggests that Smilodectes gracilis was a diurnal species. Smilodectes gracilis had a cranial capacity of 9.5 cc.[1] It is thought that Smilodectes gracilis had an average body mass of around 2.1 kilograms.

[edit] Locomotion

Based upon its postcranial skeleton, Smilodectes gracilis was a vertical clinger and leaper.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Martin, R.D. 1990. Primate Origins and Evolution: A Phylogenetic Reconstruction. Princeton University Press: Princeton, New Jersey.