Plesictis

Plesictis
Temporal range: Early Oligocene–Early Miocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Superfamily: Musteloidea
Family: Mustelidae
Genus: †Plesictis
Pomel (1846)

Plesictis is an extinct prehistoric genus of mustelid[1][2] (originally described as a procyonid) endemic to Europe during the Oligocene 33.9—28.4 Ma existing for approximately 5.5 million years.[3]

Plesictis was a 75 centimetres (2.46 ft) long animal, resembling a weasel with large eyes, or possibly a cacomistle. Its large eyes and very long tail suggest that it may have been nocturnal and arboreal. Judging from its teeth, it was an omnivore.[4]

References

  1. ^ Mieczysław WOLSAN "Phylogeny and classification of early European Mustelida (Mammalia: Carnivora)"Acta Theriologica 38 (4): 345-384
  2. ^ CLEMENS MODDEN and MIECZYSLAW WOLSAN, "External brain morphology of the late Oligocene musteloid carnivoran Bavarictis gaimersheimensis" Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 45, 3, 301-310 [1]
  3. ^ PaleoBiology Database: Plesictis, basic info
  4. ^ Palmer, D., ed (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 215. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.