Protodichobune 

Protodichobune oweni

Resurrected on:

1 mrt. 2021

Genus information

Protodichobune 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, Protodichobune 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

Europe

Eocene

Species information

Protodichobune oweni is one of two species of its genus and fossils have been found in France and Spain, dating from the Eocene epoch. It was small in size, reaching just 15 cm in length (without its tail) and weighted about 500 gr. The fossil record is fairly small and mostly consists of isolated teeth.

Species:

Paleontologist:

Distribution:

Epoch:

Protodichobune oweni

Lemoine, 1878

Europe

Eocene

Length:

Height:

Weight:

15 cm

10 cm

500 gr

Reference:

Sudre, J. and G. Lecomte. 2000. Relations et position systématique du genre Cuisitherium Sudre et al., 1983, le plus dérivé des artiodactyles d l'Éocène inférieur d'Europe. Geodiversitas 22(3):415-432