Probathyopsis

Probathyopsis, from Ancient Greek πρό (pró), meaning "before", βαθύς (bathús), meaning "thick", and ὄψις (ópsis), meaning "face", is an extinct genus of dinocerate mammal from Paleocene North America.^[1]

Probathyopsis Temporal range: Late Paleocene–Early Eocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Evolution of the teeth of the Dinocerata, with "Probathyopsis sucessor" (above, now considered a synonym of P. praecursor) and Probathyopsis praecursor (below)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	†Dinocerata
Family:	†Prodinoceratidae
Genus:	†Probathyopsis Simpson, 1929
Species
P. harrisorum (Patterson, 1939) P. lysitensis (Kelley and Wood, 1954) P. praecursor (Simpson, 1929) P. sinyuensis (Chow and Tung, 1962)
Synonyms
P. newbilli P. sucessor Prouintatherium

Description

Probathyopsis is incredibly basal compared to the later dinocerates in terms of anatomical characteristics. The genus lacks the characteristic skull knobs, unlike derived dinocerates. The flange on the mandible is also less developed as in later members of the clade, like Uintatherium. The lower molars are also longer and narrower than in later members of the group.^[2] The genus was sexually dimorphic, with males being larger and having larger mandibular flanges.^[3]

Classification

The classification history of Probathyopsis is convoluted. It has been suggested at times to be a synonym of Prodinoceras ^[3], though there is debate to this as many authors still recognize the genus as valid.^[4][5] Currently the genus is believed to be among the most basal of all dinocerates and is grouped closely with Prodinoceras, in the family Prodinoceratidae.^[1]