The Chadronian squirrel “Sciurus” JeffersoniDouglass, 1901: a new generic name, new material, and its bearing on the early evolution of Sciuridae (Rodentia)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A new genus, Douglassia, is erected for the problematic Chadronian sciurid Sciurus jeffersoni Douglass, 1901. Previously undescribed material adds new morphologic information for the taxon. Douglassia differs from other sciurids in the retention of primitive dental and masseteric morphology. Based on postcranial anatomy, the genus is referred to the Tribe Sciurini (tree squirrels), which is regarded as the sister taxon to all other Sciurinae. The known fossil material of Tertiary flying squirrels is inadequate to determine whether they constitute a distinct family.