Leptomeryx

Leptomeryx
Temporal range: middle Eocene to early Miocene[1]
Skeleton, Paleontology Museum of Zurich
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: †Leptomerycidae
Genus: †Leptomeryx
Leidy, 1853
Type species
†Leptomeryx evansi
Species[2]
  • †L. blacki
  • †L. evansi
  • †L. mammifer
  • †L. obliquidens
  • †L. speciosus
  • †L. yoderi

Leptomeryx is an extinct genus of ruminant of the family Leptomerycidae, endemic to North America during the Eocene through Oligocene 38—24.8 Mya, existing for approximately 13.2 million years.

Contents

Taxonomy

Leptomeryx was named by Leidy (1853). Its type is Leptomeryx evansi. It was assigned to Leptomerycinae by Matthew (1908); to Hypertragulidae by Cook (1934); and to Leptomerycidae by Leidy (1853) and then by Carroll (1988).[3]

Morphology

Leptomeryx was a small deer-like ruminant with somewhat slender body.

Body mass

Four specimens were examined by Legendre and Roth for body mass.[4]

Fossil distribution

Sites and species recovered:

References

  1. ^ Webb, 1998, p. 474.
  2. ^ Webb, 1998, p.471.
  3. ^ R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York 1-698
  4. ^ S. Legendre and C. Roth. 1988. Correlation of carnassial tooth size and body weight in recent carnivores (Mammalia). Historical Biology 1(1):85-98
  5. ^ Paleobiology database: Toadstool Park collection
  6. ^ Paleobiology database: Medicine Pole Hills collection