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Merycodontinae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Merycodontinae
Merycodus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Antilocapridae
Subfamily: Merycodontinae
Genera

Cosoryx
Merriamoceros
Merycodus
Paracosoryx
Ramoceros

Merycondontinae is a subfamily of pronghorn that arose during the middle of the Miocene and became extinct by the end of that period.

Restoration of Ramoceros and Cosoryx

The Merycondontinae were small, slightly built, fast-running ungulates. Both males and females were horned.

The genera Meryceros and Submeryceros are generally regarded as synonymous with Merycodus.[1][2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Janis, Kathleen M. (1998). Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America: Volume 1, Terrestrial Carnivores, Ungulates, and Ungulate Like Mammals. Cambridge University Press. p. 496.
  2. ^ Prothero, Donald R. (2007). The Evolution of Artiodactyls. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 232. ISBN 9780801887352.
  • Byers, John A.; American Pronghorn: Social Adaptations & the Ghosts of Predators Past; University of Chicago Press; 1998