Archaeomeryx Temporal range: Early Eocene |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Suborder: | Ruminantia |
Genus: | Archaeomeryx |
Species | |
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Archaeomeryx is an extinct genus of ruminant that lived early in the Eocene.[1][2][3] It is believed to be close to the ancestry of modern day deers from had fully functioning sharp front teeth.[4] It was also very small in size, comparable to a modern day mouse.[5] It was also very rabbit-like and had several distinctive characteristics.[6] It lived in present-day China 35 to 40 million years ago.[7] Over the years, it eventually lost its front teeth and eventually evolved into modern-day deer.[4]