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 and Miocene 33.9—20.0 Ma existing for approximately 13.9 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
- ↑ Mieczysław WOLSAN "Phylogeny and classification of early European Mustelida (Mammalia: Carnivora)"Acta Theriologica 38 (4): 345-384
- ↑ CLEMENS MODDEN and MIECZYSLAW WOLSAN, "External brain morphology of the late Oligocene musteloid carnivoran Bavarictis gaimersheimensis" Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 45, 3, 301-310
- ↑ PaleoBiology Database: Plesictis, basic info
- ↑ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 215. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
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