Promerycochoerus
Appearance
Promerycochoerus Temporal range: Early Miocene
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Promerycochoerus carrikeri | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Family: | †Merycoidodontidae |
Genus: | †Promerycochoerus Leidy, 1858 |
Species | |
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Promerycochoerus ("Before Merycochoerus" or "Before Ruminating Hog") is an extinct genus of hippopotamus-like oreodont artiodactyl that lived in Central North America during the Early Miocene.
The 1 m (3 ft 4 in) long creature is thought to have been amphibious, as all species possessed an elongated, barrel-shaped body and short limbs that are typical adaptations found in semi-aquatic mammals. P. superbus had a long tapir-like face, while P. carrikeri had a short, somewhat pig-like face.[1]
References
- ^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 271. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.