| Plesictis Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Genus: | †Plesictis Pomel (1846) |
Plesictis is an extinct prehistoric genus of mustelid[1][2] (originally described as a procyonid) endemic to Europe during the Oligocene and Miocene 33.9—20.0 Ma existing for approximately 13.9 million years.[3]
Plesictis was a 75 centimetres (2.46 ft) long animal, resembling a weasel with large eyes, or possibly a cacomistle. Its large eyes and very long tail suggest that it may have been nocturnal and arboreal. Judging from its teeth, it was an omnivore.[4]
- ^ Mieczysław WOLSAN "Phylogeny and classification of early European Mustelida (Mammalia: Carnivora)"Acta Theriologica 38 (4): 345-384
- ^ CLEMENS MODDEN and MIECZYSLAW WOLSAN, "External brain morphology of the late Oligocene musteloid carnivoran Bavarictis gaimersheimensis" Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 45, 3, 301-310 [1]
- ^ PaleoBiology Database: Plesictis, basic info
- ^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 215. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.