plesiadapid, n. and a. Palæont.
(pliːzɪˈædəpɪd)
[f. mod.L. family name Plesiadapidæ, f. the generic name Plesiadapis (P. Gervais 1877, in Jrnl. Zool. VI. 76), f. plesio- + Adapis, generic name of another fossil primate + -id3.]
A. n. A primitive, extinct primate belonging to the family Plesiadapidæ, known from Palæocene fossil remains found in North America and Europe. B. adj. Of, pertaining to, or resembling an animal of this kind.
| 1945 A. S. Romer Vertebr. Paleontol. (ed. 2) xviii. 343 The plesiadapids have been thought to be aberrant lemurs or tree shrews. 1949 W. E. Le Gros Clark Hist. Primates 50 We know little as yet about the limb bones of the plesiadapids. 1963 E. L. Simons in J. Buettner-Janusch Evolutionary & Genetic Biol. Primates I. ii. 79 The anterior teeth of plesiadapids were enlarged and procumbent. 1970 [see lorisid n. and a.]. 1975 Nature 10 Jan. 111/2 Five plesiadapid lineages are known, at least two of which were common to both Europe and North America. |