Family †Merycoidodontidae Rank Genus | Phylum Chordata Order Even-toed ungulate | |
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Similar Even‑toed ungulate, Merycochoerus, Mesoreodon, Brachycrus, Eporeodon | ||
Ticholeptus is an extinct genus of oreodont endemic to North America during the Early Miocene-Middle Miocene epochs (20.6—13.6 mya), existing for approximately 7 million years.
Contents
Taxonomy
Ticholeptus was named by Cope (1878). Its type is Ticholeptus zygomaticus. It was synonymized subjectively with Merychyus by Cope (1884), Scott (1890) and Scott (1893). It was assigned to Merycoidodontidae by Cope (1878), Thorpe (1937), Schultz and Falkenbach (1941), Kelly and Lander (1988) and Lander (1998).
Morphology
Two specimens were examined by M. Mendoza for body mass. Specimen one was estimated to have a weight of 116 kg (255.7 lbs). Specimen two was estimated to have a weight of 154.9 kg (341.4 lbs).
Fossil distribution
Fossils have been uncovered throughout the U.S. from Gadsden County, Florida to Jefferson County, Oregon as well as Ventura, California, numerous sites in Nebraska, Nevada, and Montana.
Species
T. zygomaticus (syn. Merycochoerus obliquidens, Poatrephes paludicola, T. hypsodus, T. rileyi, Ustatochoerus schrammi).