Merycoides
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Merycoides Temporal range: Late Oligocene |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | †Merycoidodontidae |
| Genus: |
†Merycoides Douglass (1907) |
| Type species | |
| †Merycoides cursor |
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| Species | |
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see text |
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| Synonyms | |
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see text
Merycoides is an extinct genus of oreodont of the subfamily Merycoidodontinae endemic to North America during the Whitneyan stage of the Oligocene-Late Oligocene epochs (30.8—24.8 mya), existing for approximately 6 million years.
Merycoides was named by Douglass (1907). Its type species is Merycoides cursor. It was synonymized subjectively with Mesoreodon by Loomis (1920). It was assigned to Merycoidodontidae by Douglass (1907), Loomis (1924), Thorpe (1937) and Lander (1998)., Thorpe 1937. It is synonymous with Paramerychyus.
Two specimens were examined by M. Mendoza for body mass. Specimen one was estimated to have a weight of 67.6 kg (149 lbs). Specimen two was estimated to have a weight of 118.3 kg (260.8 lbs).
Fossils have been uncovered throughout the western U.S. as well as Florida.
Merycoides cursor, M. harrisonensis, M. longiceps, M. pariogonus, M. relictus
Related genera include the other members of the subfamily Promerycochoerinae, including Promesodreodon and Promerycochoerus
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