Bathygenys
| Bathygenys Temporal range: 35–5 Ma | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Suborder: | Tylopoda |
| Family: | †Merycoidodontidae |
| Genus: | Bathygenys |
Bathygenys is an extinct genus of terrestrial herbivore of the family Merycoidodontidae (oreodont), endemic to North America during the Late Eocene-Early Oligocene subepochs (38—33.3 mya) existing for approximately 4.7 million years.[2]
Bathygenys was a cud-chewing plant-eater with a heavy body, long tail, short feet, and four-toed hooves.
Taxonomy
Bathygenys was named by Douglass (1901). It is not extant. It was assigned to Merycoidodontidae by Douglass (1901) and Lander (1998). It is synonymous with Parabathygenys.[3]
Morphology
Four specimens were examined by M. Mendoza for body mass and estimated to have a weight of:
- Specimen 1: 8.53 kg (18.8 lbs).
- Specimen 2: 6.87 kg (15.1 lbs).
- Specimen 3: 5.58 kg (12.3 lbs).
- Specimen 4: 6.20 kg (13.6 lbs).[4]
Fossil distribution
Fossils are widespread through the western United States.
Species
- B. alpha (syn. Megabathygenys goorisi) (type species)
- B. hedlundae (syn. Parabathygenys paralpha)
- B. reevesi
Resources
- ↑ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 270. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
- ↑ PaleoBiology Database: Bathygenys, basic info
- ↑ B. Lander. 1998. Oreodontoidea. In C. M. Janis, K. M. Scott, and L. L. Jacobs (eds.), Evolution of Tertiary mammals of North America 402-425
- ↑ 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
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