Hypisodus

Hypisodus
Temporal range: Eocene–Oligocene
Skeleton of Hypisodus sp., Perot Museum
Life restoration of H. minimus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: †Hypertragulidae
Genus: †Hypisodus
Cope (1873)

Hypisodus is an extinct genus of hoofed mammal belonging to the family Hypertragulidae, within the order Artiodactyla, endemic to North America during the Eocene through Oligocene, living 37.2–26.3 Ma, existing for approximately 10.9 million years.[1]

Hypisodus were primitive and ancient ruminants, resembling small deer or musk deer, although they were more closely related to modern chevrotains. Its diet was thought to be that of a frugivore, however it has been noted that its dentition and small body size supports the idea of requiring a highly selective browsing diet resembling other modern small artiodactyls. [2]

Skull of H. retallacki from the Oligocene (Orellan) Cedar Creek Formation in Horsetail Creek, Colorado.

Taxonomy

Hypisodus minimus skeleton, American Museum of Natural History

Hypisodus was named by Cope. It was assigned to Hypisodontinae by Matthew and to Hypertragulidae by Cope, Cook and Carroll.[3][4]

Fossil distribution

Partial list of fossil sites:

References

  1. ^ PaleoBiology Database: Hypisodus, basic info
  2. ^ Lucas, Spencer G. (2004). Paleogene Mammals: Bulletin 26. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. p. 141.
  3. ^ W. D. Matthew. 1908. Osteology of Blastomeryx and phylogeny of the American Cervidae. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 24(27):535-562
  4. ^ H. J. Cook. 1934. New artiodactyls from the Oligocene and Lower Miocene of Nebraska. American Midland Naturalist 15(2):148–165