Merychyus

Merychyus Temporal range: Miocene (Arikareean-Clarendonian) ~20.4–10.3 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
M. elegans fossil, Royal Ontario Museum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	†Merycoidodontidae
Genus:	†Merychyus Leidy 1858
Type species
Merychyus elegans Leidy 1858
Species
M. arenarum Cope, 1884 M. calaminthus Jahns, 1940 M. elegans Leidy, 1858 (type) M. minimus Peterson, 1907 M. relictus Matthew & Cook, 1909 M. verrucomalus Stevens, 1970
Synonyms
Metoreodon Matthew & Cook, 1909

Merychyus is an extinct genus of oreodont of the family Merycoidodontidae, endemic to North America. It lived during the Miocene, 20.4—10.3 mya, existing for approximately 10 million years.^[1] Fossils are widespread through the central and western United States.

Merychyus was a herbivore with a short face, tusk-like canine teeth, heavy body, long tail, short feet, and four-toed hooves.^{[citation needed]}

Fossil distribution[]

Fossils of the genus have been found in:^[1]

Arikareean

• , Arizona
• Diligencia, Sespe & Tick Canyon Formations, California
• Arikaree Formation, North Dakota
• John Day Formation, Oregon
• Delaho Formation, Texas
• Colter, Harrison & Marsland Formations, Wyoming

Harrisonian

• Hector Formation, California
• Agate Springs, Harrison, Marsland & , Nebraska
• Rosebud Formation, South Dakota
• Delaho Formation, Texas
• Harrison & Marsland Formations, Wyoming

Other Miocene

• Cypress Hills Formation, Hemingfordian Saskatchewan, Canada
• Suchilquitongo Formation, Mexico
• Barstow, Bopesta, Branch Canyon, Hector, Kramer Beds & Vaqueros Formations, California
• Browns Park & , Colorado
• Railroad Canyon Beds Formation, Idaho
• Fleming Formation, Louisiana
• Runningwater, Sheep Creek, Olcott, , Box Butte, Valentine & Ash Hollow Formations, Nebraska
• Truckee & Monarch Mill Formations, Nevada
• Tesuque, & Abiquiu Formations, New Mexico
• Laverne Formation, Oklahoma
• Juntura & John Day Formations, Oregon
• Arikaree & Batesland Formations, South Dakota
• Goliad Formation, Texas
• Marsland, Colter, North Park, Arikaree & , Wyoming

References[]

Bibliography[]

• J. Leidy. 1858. Notice of Remains of Extinct Vertebrata, from the Valley of the Niobrara River, Collected during the Exploring Expedition of 1857, in Nebraska, under the Command of Lieut. G. K. Warren, U. S. Top. Eng., by Dr. F. V. Hayden, Geologist to the Expedition. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 10:15-89