Toromeryx

Toromeryx is a medium-sized extinct genus of Artiodactyla, of the family Protoceratidae, endemic to southwestern North America from the Eocene epoch (Late Uintan stage) 46.2—42 Ma, existing for approximately 4.2 million years .[1]

Toromeryx
Temporal range: Eocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: †Protoceratidae
Genus: †Toromeryx
Wilson (1974)
Species
  • T. marginensis
Range of Toromeryx based on fossil record

Taxonomy

Toromeryx was named by Wilson (1974). Its type is Toromeryx marginensis. It was assigned to Protoceratidae by Wilson (1974), Carroll (1988), Prothero (1998) and Prothero and Ludtke (2007).[2][3][4]

Morphology

Toromeryx resembled deer. However they were more closely related to camelids. In addition to having horns in the more usual place, protoceratids had additional, rostral horns above the orbital cavity. Toromeryx was smaller than Miocene members of Tylopoda: Paratoceras, Protoceras, and Pseudoprotoceras.

Fossil distribution

Fossils have been recovered from:

References
  1. PaleoBiology Database: Toromeryx, basic info
  2. J. A. Wilson. 1974. Texas Memorial Museum Bulletin 23
  3. R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York 1-698
  4. D. R. Prothero and J. A. Ludtke. 2007. Family Protoceratidae. in D. R. Prothero and S. Foss (eds.), The Evolution of Artiodactyls 169-176


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