Protostrigidae is a prehistoric family of owls which occurred in North America, Europe, and Asia during the Eocene and early Oligocene periods. Genera include Eostrix, Minerva, Oligostrix, and Primoptynx.Primoptynx poliotauros:Gerald Mayr, Philip D. Gingerich, Thierry Smith: Skeleton of a new owl from the early Eocene of North America (Aves, Strigiformes) with an accipitrid-like foot morphology, in: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, published online July 28, 2020; doi:10.1080/02724634.2020.1769116.55-Million-Year-Old Fossil of Large-Sized Owl Found in Wyoming, on: sci-news, Jul 31, 2020. In 1983, Cécile Mourer-Chauviré demonstrated that Protostrix is a junior synonym of Minerva.
Protostrigidae characteristics include strong first and second toes as well as a widened medial condyle of the tibiotarsus.
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