Desmostylus
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Desmostylus |
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Extinct (fossil)
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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.