Parvitragulus
| Parvitragulus Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | †Hypertragulidae |
| Genus: | †Parvitragulus Lull (1922) |
| |
| Range of Nanotragulus based on fossil record | |
Parvitragulus is an extinct genus belonging to the family Hypertragulidae, within the order Artiodactyla, endemic to North America during the Eocene, living 38–33.9 Ma, existing for approximately 4.1 million years.[1]
Parvitragulus were primitive and ancient ruminants, resembling small deer or musk deer, although they were more closely related to modern chevrotains. Its diet is stated to be that of a frugivore.
Taxonomy
Parvitragulus was named by Emry (1978). Its type is Parvitragulus priscus. It was assigned to Hypertragulidae by Emry (1978) and Carroll (1988).[2][3]
Morphology
Body mass
Four specimens were examined by M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist for body mass:[4]
- 3.26 kg (7.2 lb)
- 2.16 kg (4.8 lb)
Fossil distribution
Partial list of fossil sites:
- Flagstaff Rim I, Natrona County, Wyoming
- Dirty Creek Ridge, Sioux County, Nebraska
- Airstrip (TMM 40504), Presidio County, Texas
References
- ^ PaleoBiology Database: Parvitragulus, basic info
- ^ R. J. Emry. 1978. Journal of Paleontology 52(5)
- ^ R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York 1-698
- ^ M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist. 2006. Estimating the body mass of extinct ungulates: a study on the use of multiple regression. Journal of Zoology 270(1):90-101