Hyracodontidae
Hyracodontidae Temporal range: Early Eocene-Early Miocene,
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Hyracodon | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Perissodactyla |
Superfamily: | Rhinocerotoidea |
Family: | †Hyracodontidae Cope, 1879[1] |
Subfamilies | |
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The Hyracodontidae are an extinct family of rhinoceroses endemic to North America, Europe, and Asia during the Eocene through early Miocene, living from 48.6 to 26.3 million years ago (Mya), existing about 22.3 million years.[2]
They are typified as having long limbs and no horns. These animals were initially modest in size and fast-moving, having evolved from smaller members of the Rhinocerotoidea during the Late Eocene and Early Oligocene. They later evolved into gigantic forms that included the largest terrestrial mammals ever to have lived (the Indricotheriinae or Paraceratheriinae).
The Hyracodontidae thrived in the rainforests of Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and southwest China, a former coastal region. Fossil evidence also extends their geographical range to Germany.
References[]
- ^ McKenna, M. C; S. K. Bell (1997). Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-11012-X.
- ^ "Fossilworks: Hyracodontidae". paleodb.org. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
Further reading[]
This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (November 2018) |
- Lucas, S. G. & Sobus, J. C., (1989), The Systematics of Indricotheres. 358–378 in Prothero, D. R. & Schoch, R. M., (eds.) 1989: The Evolution of Perissodactyls, Oxford University Press, New York, New York & Oxford, England.
- Prehistoric rhinoceroses
- Oligocene odd-toed ungulates
- Miocene odd-toed ungulates
- Aquitanian extinctions
- Prehistoric mammals of North America
- Prehistoric mammals of Europe
- Prehistoric mammals of Asia
- Eocene first appearances
- Prehistoric mammal families
- Prehistoric odd-toed ungulate stubs