Biology:Colodon

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Short description: Extinct genus of mammals

Colodon
Temporal range: Late Eocene - Early Oligocene
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Helaletidae
Genus: Colodon
Marsh, 1890
Type species
Colodon occidentalis
Leidy, 1868
Species[1]
  • C. angulatus
  • C. kayi
  • C. occidentalis
  • C. stovalli
  • C. woodi

Colodon is an extinct genus of herbivorous mammals that were related to tapirs of today.[2]

Taxonomy

Species of Colodon were originally placed within the genus Lophiodon but were later found to be distinct.[3]

Description

Colodon had small or absent canines and short, broad cheek teeth. The skull had a greatly enlarged narial incision and greatly reduced nasals. Similarities between the skulls of Colodon and true tapirs suggest it may have had a very small trunk as well.[3]

Colodon first appeared in the Late Eocene and lasted until the Whitneyan.

References

  1. "Fossilworks: Colodon". http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=43107. 
  2. L. T. Holbrook. 1999. The Phylogeny and classification of tapiromorph perissodactyls (Mammalia). Cladistics 15(3):331-350 [J. Alroy/J. Alroy/M. Uhen]
  3. 3.0 3.1 Benton, Rachel C. (2015). The White River Badlands: Geology and Paleontology. Indiana University Press. p. 156. ISBN 9780253016089. 

Wikidata ☰ Q60790271 entry