Notopithecidae

Notopithecidae is a family of typotherine notoungulates known from Paleogene deposits of the San Juan Formation, Argentina.^[1] The name of the clade derives from an error, Florentino Ameghino assumed the namesake of the family, Notopithecus, was a primate.^[2]

Notopithecidae Temporal range: Paleocene–Oligocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Notopithecus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	†Notoungulata
Suborder:	†Typotheria
Family:	†Notopithecidae Ameghino, 1897
Species
†Notopithecus †Eupithecops †Guilielmoscottia †Antepithecus †Transpithecus

Description

Notopithecids had low crowned teeth and relatively underived dentition when compared to later typotheres. They had brachyodont molars. ^[3] They most likely walked plantigrade, indicated by an astragalar foramen and a shallow and asymmetric trochela.^[4]

Classification

Notopithecidae has had some debate as to whether it is even a valid family, occasionally being placed within Interatheriidae.^[5] However, most literature supports Notopithecidae being its own family. ^[1][3]