| Leptomerycinae Temporal range: Eocene–Miocene |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | †Hypertragulidae |
| Genus: | †Leptomerycinae Zittel (1893) |
| Range of Leptomerycinae based on fossil record | |
Leptomerycinae is an extinct genus belonging to the family Hypertragulidae, within the order Artiodactyla, endemic to North America, Europe, and Asia during the Eocene through Miocene, living 46.2–13.6 Ma, existing for approximately 32.6 million years.[1]
Leptomerycinae were primitive and ancient ruminants, resembling small deer or musk deer, although they were more closely related to modern chevrotains. Its diet is stated to be that of a frugivore.
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Leptomerycinae was named by Zittel (1893). It was reranked as the subfamily Leptomerycinae by Matthew (1908). It was assigned to Hypertragulidae by Matthew (1908); and to Traguloidea by Carroll (1988).[2][3]
One specimen was examined by M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist for body mass:[4]
Throughout North America, Europe, and to an extent Asia.