Notopithecidae

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

Description

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

Classification

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