| Paratoceras | |
|---|---|
| |
| An artist's illustration and size comparison of Paratoceras tedfordi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | †Protoceratidae |
| Genus: | †Paratoceras Frick, 1937 |
| Referred species | |
| |
Paratoceras is an extinct genus of medium-sized protoceratid endemic to North America from the Miocene epoch, 16.3—15.97 Ma, existing for approximately 0.33 million years.
Species[]
- P. coatesi Rincón et al. 2015
- P. macadamsi Frick 1937
- P. orarius Rincón et al. 2015
- P. tedfordi Webb et al. 2003
- P. wardi Patton & Taylor 1973
Fossil distribution[]
Fossils have been recovered from:
- Gaillard Cut, Cucaracha Formation, Panama
- Balumtun Sandstone, Chiapas, Mexico
- Suchilquitongo Formation, Oaxaca , Mexico
- Trinity River Pit 1, Fleming Formation, San Jacinto County, Texas
Taxonomy[]
Paratoceras was named by Frick (1937). Its type is Paratoceras macadamsi. It was assigned to Protoceratidae by Frick (1937) and Carroll (1988); and to Protoceratinae by Webb (1981), Prothero (1998), Webb et al. (2003) and Prothero and Ludtke (2007).
Morphology[]
Paratoceras resembled deer. However they were more closely related to camelids. In addition to having horns in the more usual place, protoceratids had additional, rostral horns above the orbital cavity. Paratoceras was larger than Eocene members of Tylopoda: Heteromeryx, Leptoreodon, Leptotragulus, Toromeryx, Trigenicus and Poabromylus.
Body mass[]
A single fossil specimen of Paratoceras was measured by M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist for body mass. The specimen was determined to weigh:
- Specimen 1: 73.3 kg (160 lb)