Blastomeryx

Blastomeryx is an extinct genus of musk deer endemic to North America. It lived during the Miocene epoch 20.4—10.3 mya, existing for approximately 10 million years.[1] There may be only one species, Blastomeryx gemmifer.[2]

Blastomeryx
Temporal range:
Reconstruction
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Moschidae
Subfamily: †Blastomerycinae
Genus: †Blastomeryx
Cope, 1877
Species
  • B. cursor Cook 1934
  • B. gemmifer Cope 1874
  • B. vigoratus Hay 1924
Synonyms
  • B. elegans
  • B. francesca
  • B. medius
  • B. mollis
  • B. pristinus
  • B. tantillus

Blastomeryx was 75 centimetres (30 in) long and looked like a modern chevrotain. Its canines were elongated into tusks which it probably used to uproot plants and fend off predators. While Blastomeryx (as well as modern musk deer) lacked antlers, a Middle Miocene species had bony knobs on its skull, which have been interpreted as incipient horns.[3]

References
  1. Blastomeryx at fossilworks
  2. Prothero, 2007 (p. 221-226)
  3. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 273. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
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