Heptodon

Heptodon; Temporal range: Early Eocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Perissodactyla
Superfamily:	Tapiroidea
Family:	†Helaletidae
Genus:	†Heptodon; Cope 1882
Species
	†H. calciculus Cope 1880; †H. minimus Qi 1987; †H. niushanensis Chow & Li 1965; †H. posticus Cope 1882;

Heptodon is an extinct genus of tapir-type herbivore of the family Helaletidae endemic to North America during the Early Eocene. It lived from 50.3—48.6 mya, existing for approximately 1.7 million years.^[1]

Heptodon was about 1 metre (3.3 ft) in length, and closely resembled modern tapirs. The shape of the skull suggests that it probably lacked the characteristic tapir trunk. Instead it probably had a slightly elongated, fleshy upper lip, like its relative Helaletes.^[2]

References

^ Heptodon at fossilworks
^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 261. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.

References

See also