Rank Genus | Phylum Chordata Order Even-toed ungulate | |
Similar Hypertragulidae, Hypertragulus, Even‑toed ungulate, Leptomeryx, Protoceras | ||
Hypisodus is an extinct genus belonging to the family Hypertragulidae, within the order Artiodactyla, endemic to North America during the Eocene through Oligocene, living 37.2–26.3 Ma, existing for approximately 10.9 million years.
Contents
Hypisodus were primitive and ancient ruminants, resembling small deer or musk deer, although they were more closely related to modern chevrotains. Its diet is stated to be that of a frugivore.
Taxonomy
Hypisodus was named by Cope (1873). It was assigned to Hypisodontinae by Matthew (1908); and to Hypertragulidae by Cope (1873), Cook (1934) and Carroll (1988).
Fossil distribution
Partial list of fossil sites:
References
Hypisodus Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA