Elaschitotherium 

Elaschitotherium qii

Resurrected on:

7 feb. 2021

Genus information

Elaschitotherium is a genus of very primitive ungulate that lived during the Eocene epoch of Asia. It belonged to the Dichobunidae family and represented one of the earliest known ungulates. In life, Elaschitotherium 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. The shape of their teeth suggests they were browsers, feeding on small leaves in the undergrowth of dense forests or semi-open landscapes.

Family:

Distribution:

Epoch:

Dichobunidae

Asia

Eocene

Species information

Elaschitotherium qii is the only species within its genus and fossils have been found in China, dating from the Eocene epoch. It was a very small species, reaching just 15 cm in length (without its tail) and weighted about 500 gr.

Species:

Paleontologist:

Distribution:

Epoch:

Elaschitotherium qii

Metais et al. 2004

Asia

Eocene

Length:

Height:

Weight:

15 cm

10 cm

500 gr

Reference:

Metais, G., J. Guo, and K. C. Beard. 2004. A new small dichobunid artiodactyl from Shanghuang (MIddle Eocene, eastern China): Implications for the early evolution of proto-selenodonts in Asia. Bulletin of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History 36:177-195