Smilodectes gracilis (Wortman 1903; Middle Eocene, North America, 55mya, 27cm snout-vent length) is traditionally considered an adapid (lemur-sister) primate. Here it is transitional to higher New World monkeys, tarsiers, Old World monkeys and apes, in that order. It is derived from a sister to Notharctus.

Distinct from Notharctus, the rostrum is shorter. Four premolars and three molars are present in the maxilla and dentary. The dorsal skull bones are unfused. A smaller muzzle and larger orbits indicates a shift from olfactory to visual acuity. The ulnocarpal joint of Smilodectes is similar to that of extant haplorhines and other eutherians.

Rooneyia viejaensis (Wilson 1966; Kirk et al. 2014; Late Eocene, 37 mya) is a basal primate known from a nearly complete skull. Everyone agrees on that. Where Rooneyia nests is the point of contention.

Kirk et al. 2014 report: "Rooneyia viejaensis is a North American Eocene primate of uncertain phylogenetic affinities. Although the external cranial anatomy of Rooneyia is well studied, various authors have suggested that Rooneyia is a stem haplorhine, stem strepsirrhine, stem tarsiiform, or stem anthropoid."w