A new clade of omomyid primates from the European Paleogene

A new genus, Vectipithex, is erected in the subfamily Microchoerinae, family Omomyidae, for four species, of which one, the type species is new: V. smithorum sp. nov. ‘Protoadapis’ ulmensis is referred to Vectipithex and transferred from the family Adapidae. Two species of Nannopithex, ‘N.’ quaylei and ‘N.’ raabi are also referred to the new genus. Vectipithex has a geographic distribution in north and west Europe and a stratigraphic distribution from the early Middle Eocene (Lutetian) to latest Eocene (late Priabonian). Cladistic analysis shows that Vectipithex is sister group to a clade composed of Microchoerus, Necrolemur, Nannopithex filholi, and ‘N.’ zuccolae and that poorly known ‘N.’ humilidens is sister group to those two. The Microchoerinae are shown to have undergone a phase of rapid diversification in the first few million years of the Eocene.