Protictis haydenianus (formerly Didymictis Cope 1882, Middle Paleocene ~60 mya, ~75 cm in length, is known from a partial skull. Derived from a sister to Vulpavus, Protictis is a sister to Protictitherium and was among the first tree shrews to descend from the trees following the extinction of the dinosaurs. Distinct from Vulpavus, the skull of Protictis haydenianus had a lower orbit and a shorter rostrum with longer canines and smaller incisors. |