Aumelasia
Aumelasia gabineaudi
Resurrected on:
13 feb. 2021
Genus information
Aumelasia is a genus of very primitive ungulate that lived during the Eocene epoch of Europe. It belonged to the Dichobunidae family and represented one of the earliest known ungulates. In life, Aumelasia would have resembled a very small duiker or chevrotain with a long tail. Each foot retained several toes with small hooves. They were probably fast-running animals due to their long limbs and slender build body.
Family:
Distribution:
Epoch:
Dichobunidae
Europe
Eocene
Species information
Aumelasia gabineaudi is one of at least four species within its genus and a complete skeleton has been found at the Messel Pit in Germany, dating from the Eocene epoch. It was small in size and reached about 25 cm in length (without its tail). Fossilized gut contents, containing seeds and fruits, shows that the species was a mixed feeder, feeding on both leaves and fruits.
Species:
Paleontologist:
Distribution:
Epoch:
Aumelasia gabineaudi
Sudre, 1980
Europe
Eocene
Length:
Height:
Weight:
25 cm
15 cm
1 kg
Reference:
Sudre, J. 1980. Aumelasia gabineaudi n.g. n.sp. nouveau Dichobunidae (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) du gisement d'Aumelas (Hérault) d'âge Lutétien terminal. Palaeovertebrata, Mémoire Jubilaire R. Lavocat 9:197-211
Size comparison
Distribution map
