Paratylopus

Paratylopus
Temporal range: Eocene–Oligocene
Fossils
Conservation status
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Suborder: Ruminantia
Family: Camelidae
Genus: Paratylopus
Matthew (1909)
Species
  • P. labiatus
  • P. primaevus
  • P. wortmani

Paratylopus is an extinct genus of terrestrial herbivore the family Camelidae, endemic to North America from the Eocene through Oligocene 38.0—30.8, existing for approximately 7.2 million years.[1] It belongs to mammal class.

Taxonomy

Paratylopus was named by Matthew (1909) [named as subgenus by Matthew 1904; raised to genus level]. It was assigned to Camelidae by Matthew (1909) and Carroll (1988).[2][3]

Morphology

Four specimens were examined for estimated body mass by M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist. These specimens were estimated to weigh:

Fossil distribution

Fossil distribution is centered in western Wyoming, eastern Nebraska to northeastern Colorado to southwestern South Dakota.

References

  1. PaleoBiology Database: Paratylopus, basic info
  2. W. D. Matthew. 1909. The Carnivora and Insectivora of the Bridger Basin, middle Eocene. Memoirs of the American Museum of Natural History 9:289-567
  3. R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York 1-698
  4. M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist. 2006. Estimating the body mass of extinct ungulates: a study on the use of multiple regression. Journal of Zoology 270(1):90-101