Status of Simidectes (Insectivora, Pantolestoidea) of the late Eocene of North America. American Museum novitates ; no. 2455

Abstract

Simidectes, the correct generic name for Pleurocyon of Peterson (1919) and Stock (1933), is considered (primarily from lack of evidence to the contrary) to consist of three species: S. magnus, S. medius, and S. merriami. No subgeneric distinctions are maintained. These species are known largely from upper and lower teeth, limited cranial material, and some postcranial material. These mammals were probably browsing omnivores whose teeth did more grinding than shearing. Affinities with numerous early mammal groups are dismissed, and though present evidence is slight, Simidectes is placed with the pantolestids, apheliscids, and ptolemaiids in the superfamily Pantolestoidea, to which its probability of affimity is greatest.