Eomorphippus | |
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Skull of Eomorphippus bondi | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | † Notoungulata |
Family: | † Notohippidae |
Genus: | † Eomorphippus Ameghino 1901 |
Type species | |
†Eomorphippus obscurus Ameghino 1901 | |
Species | |
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Synonyms | |
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Eomorphippus is an extinct genus of notohippid notoungulate that lived from the Late Eocene to the Early Oligocene in what is today South America.
This animal was approximately the size of a goat, with a build probably more robust. It had a heavy and sturdy skull, with a relatively short muzzle. The dentition was characterized by high-crowned (hypsodont) incisors, posterior premolars and molars. The teeth didn't have cementum. The upper incisors were slightly protruding forward. The third upper incisor was wider than the other two, while the fourth premolar was more molariform than the other premolars, but devoid of a distinct hypocone. The upper molars had hypocones, with a variable but generally deep fissure separating them from the protocones. The fissure was blocked by the medial projection of a hooked structure. Apart from the permanent major fossa, the other fossae are erased with wear.
The genus Eomorphippus was first described in 1901 by Florentino Ameghino, based on fossil remains found in Patagonia, in terrains dated either from the Late Eocene or from the Early Oligocene. The type species is Eomorphippus obscurus, whose fossils have also been found in the Chubut Province. Two other species, E. bondi and E. neilopdykei, were both described in 2018, from remains found in Oligocene terrains from Chile. Another species, traditionally attributed to Eomorphippus, E. pascuali, was reassigned in the same 2018 study to the genus Rosendo . [1]
Eomorphippus was a toxodont, a clade of notoungulates, that developed a remarkable diversity of forms during the Cenozoic. Eomorphippus has been historically included within the family Notohippidae, which included several genera whose hypsodont teeth were similar to those of horses. This family, however, is no longer considered monophyletic.
Notohippidae is a paraphyletic extinct family of notoungulate mammals from South America. Notohippids are known from the Eocene and Oligocene epochs.
Prosotherium is an extinct genus of hegetotheriid notoungulate. It lived during the Late Oligocene, and its fossilized remains were found in South America.
Ernestokokenia is an extinct genus of mammal, belonging to the Didolodontidae. It lived during the Early Eocene and the Middle Eocene, and its fossils were discovered in South America.
Otrhonia is an extinct genus of notoungulate, belonging to the Notostylopidae family. It lived during the Late Eocene, and its remains were discovered in South America.
Henricosbornia is an extinct genus of henricosborniid notoungulate that lived from the Late Paleocene to the Middle Eocene of what is now Argentina and Brazil.
Pseudhyrax is an extinct genus of archaeohyracid notoungulate. It lived from the Late Eocene to the Early Oligocene, of what is now South America.
Transpithecus is an extinct genus of Notoungulates, belonging to the suborder Typotheria. It lived during the Middle Eocene in what is today South America.
Argyrohippus is an extinct genus of notoungulate, belonging to the family Notohippidae. It lived from the Late Oligocene to the Early Miocene, and its fossilized remains were found in South America.
Propachyrucos is an extinct genus of hegetotheriid notoungulate. It lived from the Late Oligocene to the Early Miocene, in what is today South America.
Trachytherus is an extinct genus of mesotheriid notoungulate that lived from the Late Oligocene to the Early Miocene in what is now South America.
Periphragnis is an extinct genus of isotemnid notoungulates that lived from the Middle Eocene to the Early Oligocene in what is now Argentina and Chile.
Pleurostylodon is an extinct genus of notoungulate belonging to the family Isotemnidae. It lived during the Middle Eocene, in what is now Argentina.
Eurygenium is an extinct genus of notoungulate belonging to the family Notohippidae. It lived during the Late Oligocene in what is today South America.
Morphippus is an extinct genus of notohippid notoungulate that lived during the Middle to Late Oligocene in what is now South America.
Termastherium is an extinct genus of leontiniid notoungulates that lived during the Early Oligocene of what is now Chile. Fossils of this genus have been found in the Oligocene-aged Abanico Formation of Chile.
Archaeopithecus is an extinct genus of notoungulate, belonging to the suborder Typotheria. It lived during the Middle Eocene, in what is today Argentina.
Oldfieldthomasia is an extinct genus of Notoungulate, probably related to the suborder Typotheria. It lived during the Middle Eocene, in what is today South America.
Santiagorothia is an extinct genus of interatheriid notoungulate. It lived during the Early Oligocene, and its fossils were discovered in Argentina and Chile.
Notopithecus is an extinct genus of Notoungulate, belonging to the suborder Typotheria. It lived from the Middle to the Late Eocene and its fossilized remains were discovered in South America.
Rosendo is an extinct genus of notohippid notoungulates that lived during the Early Oligocene in what is now Argentina and Chile. Fossils of this genus have been found in the Sarmiento Formation and the Abanico Formations of Argentina and Chile.