Leptictinae Gill, 1872

Velazco, Paúl M. & Novacek, Michael J., 2016, Systematics of the genus Palaeictops Matthew, 1899 (Mammalia: Leptictidae), with the description of two new species from the Middle Eocene of Utah and Wyoming, American Museum Novitates 2016 (3867), pp. 1-42 : 4

Subfamily Leptictinae Gill, 1872

EMENDED DIAGNOSIS: Leptictids with large, distinct hypocones on P5 (vestigial or absent in nonleptictines). Anteroposteriorly more elongated P5 and upper molars with lower paracones, protocones, and metacones (taller cusps in nonleptictines). Upper molars with slightly more labially situated conules, absence of a twinned paraconule, and variably developed ectoflexi, but less deeply infolded than in nonleptictines. Upper molar parastylar spurs poorly developed. Elongated p5, with large, projecting paraconid. Skeletons (known in Leptictis dakotensis and Palaeictops matthewi ) with distinct distal fusion of tibia and fibula, head of humerus semilunar with sharply defined medial border, head of femur strongly canted to long axis of shaft, and deep trochanteric fossa of femur.

INCLUDED TAXA: Blacktops Meehan and Martin, 2010 ; Leptictis Leidy, 1868 ; Megaleptictis Meehan and Martin, 2012 ; and Palaeictops Matthew, 1899 .

DISTRIBUTION: Early Eocene (Wasatchian)–Late Oligocene (Whitneyan), North America.

REMARKS: Postcranial evidence offers compelling evidence for the monophyly of Leptictinae . Unfortunately, only two species in this group are represented by skeletal material. For the present, the dental features alone must serve to group all species of the subfamily.