Brachycrus

Brachycrus is an extinct genus of oreodont, of the family Merycoidodontidae, endemic to North America. They lived during the Middle Miocene, 16.0—13.6 mya, existing for approximately 2.4 million years.[1]

Life restoration of Brachycrus laticeps

Brachycrus
Temporal range: Middle Miocene
↓
Brachycrus laticeps
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: †Merycoidodontidae
Subfamily: †Merycochoerinae
Genus: †Brachycrus
Matthew, 1901
Type species
Merycochoerus rusticus
Species
  • B. buwaldi
  • B. laticeps
  • B. rusticus
  • B. siouense
  • B. sweetwaterensis
  • B. vaughani
Synonyms
  • Pronomotherium Douglass, 1907

The 1 metre (3.3 ft) long creature resembled its bigger, earlier relative Merycoidodon, but was more specialized. Brachycrus had jaws which were short, and because the nostrils were placed far to the back, the creature is presumed to have had a tapir-like proboscis.[2]

References
  1. Brachycrus at fossilworks
  2. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 271. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.


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