Aumelasia

Aumelasia gabineaudi

Resurrected on:

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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