Temporal range: Miocene (Arikareean-Clarendonian) ~20.4–10.3 Ma
PreꞒ
Ꞓ
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
M. elegans fossil, Royal Ontario Museum
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Artiodactyla
Family:
†Merycoidodontidae
Genus:
†Merychyus Leidy 1858
Type species
†Merychyus elegans
Leidy 1858
Species
M. arenarumCope, 1884
M. calaminthusJahns, 1940
M. elegansLeidy, 1858 (type)
M. minimusPeterson, 1907
M. relictusMatthew & Cook, 1909
M. verrucomalusStevens, 1970
Synonyms
MetoreodonMatthew & Cook, 1909
Merychyus is an extinct genus of oreodont of the family Merycoidodontidae, endemic to North America. It lived during the Miocene, 20.4—10.3 mya, existing for approximately 10 million years.[1] Fossils are widespread through the central and western United States.
Merychyus was a herbivore with a short face, tusk-like canine teeth, heavy body, long tail, short feet, and four-toed hooves.[citation needed]
hooves.[citation needed] Fossils of Merychyus have been uncovered from Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. Merychyus was a common prey item for the beardog...
(Daemonelix). Moropus, a chalicothere which are relatives of rhinos and horses. Merychyus, a sheep-like oreodont. Syndyoceras, antelope-like mammal and extinct...
Juniperus The formation has yielded a fossil of the pig-like oreodont Merychyus major major from an arroyo near San Antonito. The formation contains lithium-rich...
burrows by carnivorans. Over half of these remains are from the oreodont Merychyus, but the gazelle like camel Stenomylus and its larger relative Oxydactylus...
Neogene Period of the Cenozoic Era. Artiodactyls Miolabis californicus Merychyus calaminthus M. minimus Perissodactyls Parahippus maxsoni Parahippus sp...
†Merychippus republicanus †Merychyus †Merychyus arenarum †Merychyus crabilli – type locality for species †Merychyus elegans †Merychyus minimus – type locality...
tentative report †Mephitis rexroadensis – type locality for species †Merychyus †Merychyus novomexicanus Micropterus †Micropterus punctulatus – or unidentified...
provided the following fossils: Mammals Artiodactyls Merycoidodontidae Merychyus cf. minimus List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in California Paleontology...
†Menispermites †Menispermites parvareolatus – type locality for species †Merychyus †Merycochoerus †Merycoidodon †Merycoidodon bullatus †Merycoidodon culbertsoni...