Diadiaphorus

Diadiaphorus Temporal range: Early Miocene
Diadiaphorus robustus skull
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	†Litopterna
Family:	†Proterotheriidae
Genus:	†Diadiaphorus Ameghino, 1887
Species
†Diadiaphorus caniadensis †Diadiaphorus diplinthius †Diadiaphorus majusculus †Diadiaphorus robustus †Diadiaphorus sanctaecrucis †Diadiaphorus velox

Diadiaphorus is an extinct genus of litoptern mammal from the Miocene of South America.

Restoration

Diadiaphorus closely resembled a horse, but was only around 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) in body length with a weight 70 kg, similar to a modern sheep.^[1] It had three toes, only one of which touched the ground. This toe had a large hoof; the two outer toes were rudimentary, much like those of early horses such as Merychippus. Unlike horses, however, Diadiaphorus lacked fused limb bones. Its skull was short and had a relatively large brain cavity. Judging from its low molars, Diadiaphorus ate soft vegetation, such as leaves.^[2]

Species

• Diadiaphorus caniadensis
• Diadiaphorus diplinthius
• Diadiaphorus majusculus
• Diadiaphorus robustus
• Diadiaphorus sanctaecrucis
• Diadiaphorus velox

References

1. D. Patterson, Bruce (2012) Bones, Clones, and Biomes: The History and Geography of Recent Neotropical Mammals p.92
2. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 247. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.