| Oreonetes Fossil range: Eocene to Oligocene,[1] 35–5 Ma | |
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| Scientific classification
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Artiodactyla | |
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Tylopoda | |
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Merycoidodontidae | |
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Oreonetes | |
Oreonetes is an extinct genus of terrestrial herbivore of the family Merycoidodontidae (oreodont), endemic to North America during the Late Eocene-Early Oligocene subepochs (38—33.9 mya) existing for approximately .[2]
Oreonetes was a cud-chewing plant-eater with a heavy body, long tail, short feet, and four-toed hooves.
Taxonomy[]
Oreonetes was named by Loomis (1924). It is not extant. It was assigned to Merycoidodontidae by Loomis (1924) and Lander (1998).[3]
Fossil distribution[]
Fossils are widespread through the western United States.
Species[]
O. anceps.
Sister genera[]
Aclistomycter, Bathygenys, Brachycrus (syn. Pronomotherium), Desmatochoerus, Eporeodon (syn. Hypselochoerus, Pseudodesmatochoerus), Hypsiops (syn. Pseudomesoreodon, Submerycochoerus), Leptauchenia (syn. Brachymeryx, Cyclopidius, Hadroleptauchenia, Pithecistes, Pseudocyclopidius), Limnenetes, Mediochoerus, Merycoides (syn. Paramerychyus), Merycochoerus, Merycoidodon (syn. Blickohyus, Genetochoerus, Oreodon, Otionohyus, Paramerycoidodon, Prodesmatochoerus, Promesoreodon, Subdesmatochoerus), Mesoreodon, Miniochoerus (syn. Parastenopsochoerus, Platyochoerus, Stenopsochoerus), Oreodontoides, Paroreodon (syn. Epigenetochoerus), Phenacocoelus, Sespia (syn. Megasespia), Ticholeptus (syn. Poatrephes).
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: Oreonetes, basic info
- ^ B. Lander. 1998. C. M. Janis, K. M. Scott, and L. L. Jacobs (eds.), Evolution of Tertiary mammals of North America 402-425