Blastomeryx Temporal range:
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Reconstruction | |
Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Family: | Moschidae |
Subfamily: | † Blastomerycinae |
Genus: | †
Blastomeryx 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]
Blastomeryx Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
![]() | |
Reconstruction | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Family: | Moschidae |
Subfamily: | † Blastomerycinae |
Genus: | †
Blastomeryx Cope, 1877 |
Species | |
| |
Synonyms | |
|
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]