Blastomeryx
| Blastomeryx Temporal range: Early to Middle Miocene | |
|---|---|
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| Skeletal reconstruction | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Suborder: | Ruminantia |
| Infraorder: | Pecora |
| Family: | Moschidae |
| Subfamily: | †Blastomerycinae |
| Genus: | † Cope, 1877 |
| Species | |
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| Synonyms | |
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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 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
- ^ Blastomeryx at fossilworks
- ^ Prothero, 2007 (p. 221-226)
- ^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 273. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.