| Diadiaphorus Temporal range: Early Miocene |
|
|---|---|
| Restoration | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Litopterna |
| Family: | †Proterotheriidae |
| Genus: | †Diadiaphorus |
| Species: | †D. caniadensis Kramarz & Bond, 2005 |
| Binomial name | |
| Diadiaphorus caniadensis |
|
Diadiaphorus is an extinct genus of litoptern mammal from the Miocene of South America.
Diadiaphorus closely resembled a horse, but was only around 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) in body length, similar to a modern sheep. It had three toes, only one of which touched the ground. This toe had a large hoof; the two outer toes were rudimentary, much like those of early horses such as Merychippus. Unlike horses, however, Diadiaphorus lacked fused limb bones. Its skull was short and had a relatively large brain cavity. Judging from its low molars, Diadiaphorus ate soft vegetation, such as leaves.[1]