Desmostylus

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Desmostylus
Fossil range: Miocene
Conservation status
Extinct (fossil)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Desmostylia
Family: Desmostylidae
Genus: Desmostylus
Species: D. hesperus
Binomial name
Desmostylus hesperus
Marsh, 1888

Desmostylus is an extinct genus of herbivorous mammal.

Desmostylus was a volumous creature of about 1,80 m (6 ft) long which weighed about 200 kg. It had a short tail and powerful legs with four hooves. Both the creature's jaws were elongated and sported forward-facing tusks, which were elongated canines and incisors. Desmostylus was probably amphibious, living in shallow water in coastal regions. Some paleontologists have argued it may have fed on seaweed during low tide.

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