Kingdom Animalia Class Mammalia Family †Merycoidodontidae | Phylum Chordata Order Artiodactyla Rank Genus | |
Similar Merycochoerus, Eporeodon, Mesoreodon, Miniochoerus, Brachycrus | ||
Hypsiops is an extinct genus of oreodont of the superfamily Merycoidodontoidea, family Merycoidodontidae endemic to North America during the Late Oligocene-Early Miocene epochs (24.8—16.3 mya), existing for approximately 8.5 million years.
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Taxonomy
Hypsiops was named by Schultz and Falkenbach (1950). It was assigned to Merycoidodontidae by Schultz and Falkenbach (1950) and Lander (1998).
Morphology
Two specimens were examined by M. Mendoza for body mass. Specimen one was estimated to have a weight of 168.6 kg (371.6 lbs). Specimen two was estimated to have a weight of 223.0 kg (491.6 lbs).
Fossil distribution
Fossils have been uncovered throughout the western U.S. in Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, as well as Nebraska.
Species
H. bannackensis (syn. Pseudomesoreodon boulderensis, Pseudomesoreodon rolli), H. breviceps (syn. H. johndayensis, Pseudomesoreodon rooneyi, Ticholeptus brachymelis, Ticholeptus petersoni.