Necrolemur

Necrolemur ("dead lemur") is an extinct genus of omomyid primate from Eocene deposits in western Europe.

Necrolemur
Temporal range: Middle Eocene–Late Eocene
Restoration
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Subfamily: Microchoerinae
Genus: Necrolemur
Filhol, 1873
Species
  • N. antiquus Filhol, 1873 (type)
  • N. zitteli Schlosser, 1887
  • N. anadoni Minwer-Barakat, Marigó & Moyà-Solà, 2015

Description

Necrolemur was 25 centimetres (9.8 in) long and probably resembled a tarsier. It was a nocturnal hunter with very large eyes and ears. Necrolemur had sharp teeth, which it probably used to bite through tough insect exoskeletons. Like modern tarsiers, it also possessed long fingers and toes, and a lengthy, balancing, tail.[1] It was also characterised by a short face, a narrow gap between the eyes, a tubular ectotympanic and a relatively large brain.[2]

References

  1. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 288. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
  2. Fossil Primates from the University of Leeds
Necrolemur sp. skull


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