PTOLEMAIIDA, A NEW ORDER OF MAMMALIA - WITH DESCRIPTION OF THE CRANIUM OF PTOLEMAIA GRANGERI

All records of the exotic mammalian family Ptolemaiidae are known from 182 m of section in the lower to middle parts of the upper Eocene and lower Oligocene Jebel Qatrani Formation, Fayum Depression, Egypt. Pre vious tentative assignments of ptolemaiid affinity have suggested that these animals are allied with the primitive suborder Pantolesta (curr ently placed in the order Cimolesta). Though perhaps ultimately derive d from an unknown member of that group, the likelihood that ptolemaiid s constitute a distinct group is considered, and analysis of all known materials of Ptolemaia, Qarunavus, and Cleopatrodon demonstrates that these genera belong in their own order, the Ptolemaiida, described he re. The morphologically unique dentition and only known ptolemaiid cra nium, that of Ptolemaia grangeri, is described. Although Qarunavus and Cleopatrodon show some similarities in primitive characters to Europe an merialine Paroxyclaenidae (suborder Pantolesta), their affinities c learly lie with Ptolemaia and the Ptolemaiida.