Meniscodon

Meniscodon picteti

Resurrected on:

1 mrt. 2021

Genus information

Meniscodon 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, Meniscodon would have resembled a 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

Europe

Eocene

Species information

Meniscodon picteti was one of two species within its genus and fossils have been found in Switzerland, dating from the Eocene epoch. It was a medium-sized species, reaching about 50 cm in length (without its tail) and weighted about 3 kg. Fossils of this species are uncommon, indicating that the species wasn't abundant during its time.

Species:

Paleontologist:

Distribution:

Epoch:

Meniscodon picteti

Rutimeyer, 1891

Europe

Eocene

Length:

Height:

Weight:

50 cm

35 cm

3 kg

Reference:

Theodor, J.M., J. Erfurt, and G. Metais. 2007. The earliest artiodactyls. In D. R. Prothero, S. E. Foss (eds.), The Evolution of Artiodactyls