Limnenetes

Limnenetes is an extinct genus of oreodont, endemic to North America during the Late Eocene-Early Oligocene subepochs (38—33.9 mya) existing for approximately 4.1 million years.^[2]

Limnenetes was a herbivore with a heavy body, long tail, short feet, and four-toed hooves.

Taxonomy

Limnenetes was named by Earl Douglass in 1901 as Limnenetes platyceps. It was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia by Lander (1999). It was assigned to Merycoidodontidae by Tabrum and Nichols (2001).^[3]

Morphology

A single specimen was examined by M. Mendoza for body mass and estimated to have a weight of 33.9 kg (77.9 lbs).^[4]

Fossil distribution

Fossils were uncovered in Montana and Texas.

Species

L. platyceps (type species).

Sister genera

Aclistomycter, Bathygenys, Brachycrus (syn. Pronomotherium), Desmatochoerus, Eporeodon (syn. Hypselochoerus, Pseudodesmatochoerus), Hypsiops (syn. Pseudomesoreodon, Submerycochoerus), Leptauchenia (syn. Brachymeryx, Cyclopidius, Hadroleptauchenia, Pithecistes, Pseudocyclopidius), Mediochoerus, Merycoides (syn. Paramerychyus), Merycochoerus, Merycoidodon (syn. Blickohyus, Genetochoerus, Oreodon, Otionohyus, Paramerycoidodon, Prodesmatochoerus, Promesoreodon, Subdesmatochoerus), Mesoreodon, Miniochoerus (syn. Parastenopsochoerus, Platyochoerus, Stenopsochoerus), Oreodontoides, Oreonetes, Paroreodon (syn. Epigenetochoerus), Phenacocoelus, Sespia (syn. Megasespia), Ticholeptus (syn. Poatrephes).

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