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Miotapirus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Miotapirus
Temporal range: Early Miocene
Life reconstruction
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Tapiridae
Genus: Miotapirus
Schlaikjer, 1937
Species:
M. harrisonensis
Binomial name
Miotapirus harrisonensis
Schlaikjer, 1937

Miotapirus harrisonensis is an extinct species of tapir lived during the early Miocene Epoch some 20 million years ago in North America.

M. harrisonensis skull.

Physically Miotapirus was virtually identical to its modern relatives; with a length of 2 m (6 ft 8 in) it was even the same size. Most likely it was also nocturnal and very adaptable.[1]

References

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