Phylum Chordata Scientific name Plesiadapiformes Rank Suborder | ||
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Plesiadapiformes ("Adapid-like" or "near Adapiformes") is an extinct (and possibly paraphyletic or polyphyletic ) order of mammals. The group is either closely related to the primates or a precursor to them. Many are too derived to be ancestral to primates, but the earliest Plesiadapiformes had teeth that are strongly indicative of a common ancestor. Purgatorius is believed to be close to the last common ancestor of primates and Plesiadapiformes.
Plesiadapiformes first appear in the fossil record between 65 and 55 million years ago, although many were extinct by the beginning of the Eocene. They may have been the first mammals to have finger nails in place of claws.
One possible classification table of plesiadapiform families is listed below.
