Hemipsalodon

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Hemipsalodon
Temporal range: Eocene
Hemipsalodon grandis skull.png
The skull of Hemipsalodon grandis
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Hyaenodonta
Family: Hyaenodontidae
Subfamily:
Genus: Hemipsalodon
Cope, 1885
Type species
Hemipsalodon grandis
Cope, 1885
Other species
  • H. cooki (Schlaikjer, 1935)[1]

Hemipsalodon is a genus of hyaenodont mammal in the family Hyainailouridae, though it was initially assigned to the Oxyaenidae. The genus consists of two species, H. grandis and H. cooki.

Description[]

Reconstruction of Hemipsalodon grandis skull.

The skull of Hemipsalodon grandis is 45 centimetres (18 in) in length, with a lower jaw length of 34 centimetres (13 in). The most complete skull, O.M.S.I. No. 619, belonged to an old individual. It is powerfully-built, and overall superficially resembles the mesonychid Harpagolestes. The nasal opening is quite large. The canines are greatly enlarged. The anterior portion of the skull is broad anteriorly, but narrows down considerably posteriorly.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ Schlaikjer, Erich M. (1935). "Contributions to the stratigraphy and paleontology of the Goshen Hole area, Wyoming. III. A new basal Oligocene formation". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 76 (3): 71–93.
  2. ^ Mellett, James Silvan (1969). "A skull of Hemipsalodon (Mammalia, Deltatheridia) from the Clarno Formation of Oregon". American Museum Novitates (2387). hdl:2246/2597.


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