Dinopedia
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Dimylus
Temporal range: Miocene
B-684001
An artist's illustration of Dimylus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Dimylidae
Genus: Dimylus
Meyer, 1846
Species: D. paradoxus
von Meyer, 1846


Dimylus is an extinct genus of eulipotyphlan mammal. The only species in this genus is Dimylus paradoxus.

The creature probably resembled the modern desman in terms of size (10–20 cm in length) and physical appearance, possessing a proboscis. Its knobby teeth were small (no longer than 3,6 mm) and covered with enamel. Coupled with powerful jaw muscles this made Dimylus capable of crushing armored creatures such as crustaceans. Dimylus has been found in Europe, in areas that were abundant with water in the time it existed, suggesting it filled the same ecological niche as the modern desmans.

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