Sphenocoelus

Sphenocoelus is an extinct genus of brontothere endemic to North America during the Middle Eocene 46.2—40.4 mya), existing for approximately 6 million years.[1] Fossils have been found only in southern Wyoming and eastern Utah.

Sphenocoelus
Temporal range: Middle Eocene
Fossil
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: †Brontotheriidae
Genus: †Sphenocoelus
Osborn, 1895
Species

See text

In life, it would have resembled a hornless rhinoceros, to which it was distantly related. However, it was smaller than modern rhinos, standing about 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) high at the shoulders, and had a much longer head. Its teeth were adapted to eating soft vegetation, such as forest leaves. Like other brontotheres, it had four toes on the front feet, and three on the hind feet, and the animal is unlikely to have been able to run fast.[2]

Species
  • S. blairi
  • S. bridgeri
  • S. harundivoras
  • S. hyognathus (syn. Dolichorhinus longiceps, Telmatotherium cornutum)
  • S. intermedius (syn. Dolichorhinus fluminalis, D. heterodon, Mesatirhinus superior)
  • S. uintensis.

References
  1. Sphenocoelus at fossilworks
  2. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. XXX. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.


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