Pseudodiplacodon

Pseudodiplacodon
P. progressum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Brontotheriidae
Subfamily: Brontotheriinae
Genus: Pseudodiplacodon
Mader, 2000
Type species
P. progressum
Peterson, 1934

Pseudodiplacodon is a genus of brontothere from the Uinta Formation. Only the type species of Pseudodiplacodon, P. progressum, is known.[1]

Description

Like most other basal brontotheres, Pseudodiplacodon has small, bulbous horns. The canines of Pseudodiplacodon are smaller than those of the contemporary Protitanotherium.[1] Compared to the similar Diplacodon, Pseudodiplacodon has a shorter face and more quadrate premolars.[1] It is assumed that the forefeet bore 4 toes and the hindfeet bore 3, like other basal brontotheres.[2]

Classification

Pseudodiplacodon progressum was originally placed in the genus Diplacodon by O. A Peterson posthumously in 1934. However, morphological variation between D. progressum and the other Diplacodon species caused D. progressum to be split into its own genus by Bryn J. Mader in 2000.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Mader, Bryn J. (2000-04-17). "Pseudodiplacodon, a new generic name for Diplacodon progressum Peterson (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Brontotheriidae)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 20 (1): 164–166. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2000)020[0164:PANGNF]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0272-4634.
  2. ^ Scott, William Berryman (1913). A history of land mammals in the western hemisphere. Smithsonian Libraries. New York, The MacMillan Company.