Bathygenys

Bathygenys
Temporal range: 35–5 Ma
Eocene to Oligocene[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Artiodactyla
Family:†Merycoidodontidae
Genus:†Bathygenys

Bathygenys is an extinct genus of terrestrial herbivore of the family Merycoidodontidae (oreodont), endemic to North America during the Late Eocene-Early Oligocene subepochs (38—33.3 mya) existing for approximately 4.7 million years.[2]

Bathygenys was a cud-chewing plant-eater with a heavy body, long tail, short feet, and four-toed hooves.

Taxonomy

Bathygenys was named by Douglass (1901). It is not extant. It was assigned to Merycoidodontidae by Douglass (1901) and Lander (1998). It is synonymous with Parabathygenys.[3]

Morphology

Four specimens were examined by M. Mendoza for body mass and estimated to have a weight of:

  • Specimen 1: 8.53 kg (18.8 lbs).
  • Specimen 2: 6.87 kg (15.1 lbs).
  • Specimen 3: 5.58 kg (12.3 lbs).
  • Specimen 4: 6.20 kg (13.6 lbs).[4]

Fossil distribution

Fossils are widespread through the western United States.

Species

  • B. alpha (syn. Megabathygenys goorisi) (type species)
  • B. hedlundae (syn. Parabathygenys paralpha)
  • B. reevesi

Resources

  1. ↑ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 270. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
  2. ↑ PaleoBiology Database: Bathygenys, basic info
  3. ↑ B. Lander. 1998. Oreodontoidea. In C. M. Janis, K. M. Scott, and L. L. Jacobs (eds.), Evolution of Tertiary mammals of North America 402-425
  4. ↑ M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist. 2006. Estimating the body mass of extinct ungulates: a study on the use of multiple regression. Journal of Zoology
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