''Quercygale'' is an extinct genus of
Miacidae, primitive
carnivores that lived during the
Eocene.
The genus contains four species: ''Q. angustidens'', ''Q. hastingsae'', ''Q. helvetica'', and ''Q. smithi''.
[ Phylogenetic analysis of the basicranial morphology of miacid ]carnivoramorpha
Carnivoramorpha ("carnivoran-like forms") is a clade of placental mammals that includes the modern order Carnivora and its extinct stem-relatives.Bryant, H.N., and M. Wolson (2004“Phylogenetic Nomenclature of Carnivoran Mammals.”''First Inter ...
ns suggests ''Quercygale'' is the most advanced miacid and sister to crown group Carnivora
Carnivora is a Clade, monophyletic order of Placentalia, placental mammals consisting of the most recent common ancestor of all felidae, cat-like and canidae, dog-like animals, and all descendants of that ancestor. Members of this group are f ...
, predating the split between Feliformia and Caniformia
Caniformia is a suborder within the order Carnivora consisting of "dog-like" carnivorans. They include dogs (wolves, foxes, etc.), bears, raccoons, and mustelids. The Pinnipedia (seals, walruses and sea lions) are also assigned to this group. ...
.,[ although another recent study places them as a stem group within Feliformia.]
Taxonomy
Sources
External links
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Miacids
Eocene carnivorans
Prehistoric mammals of Europe
Prehistoric placental genera
†
A dagger, obelisk, or obelus is a typographical mark that usually indicates a footnote if an asterisk has already been used. The symbol is also used to indicate death (of people) or extinction (of species). It is one of the modern descendan ...
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