Phylum Chordata Order Odd-toed ungulate | Family Helaletidae Rank Genus | |
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Similar Odd‑toed ungulate, Homogalax, Hyrachyus, Eotitanops, Isectolophidae | ||
Heptodon is an extinct genus of tapir-type herbivore of the family Helaletidae endemic to North America during the Eocene epoch. It lived from 55.4—48.6 mya, existing for approximately 6.8 million years.
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Taxonomy
Heptodon was named by Cope (1882). It was considered paraphyletic by Colbert (2005). It was assigned to Helaletinae by Radinsky (1966); to Ceratomorpha by Cope (1882) and Colbert and Schoch (1998); to Heptodontidae by Holbrook (1999); and to Tapiroidea by Colbert (2005). M. W. Colbert. 2005.
Morphology
Heptodon was about 1 metre (3.3 ft) in length, and closely resembled modern tapirs. The shape of the skull suggests that it probably lacked the characteristic tapir trunk. Instead it probably had a slightly elongated, fleshy upper lip, like its relative Helatetes.
A single specimen was examined by M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist for body mass. It was estimated to have a weight of 15.5 kg (34 lb).