Prodinoceras, from Ancient Greek πρό (pró), meaning "before", δεινός (deinós), meaning "terrible", and κέρας (kéras), meaning "horn", is the earliest known dinocerate genus, which lived in the late Paleocene of Mongolia.[1]
| Prodinoceras Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
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| Skull of Prodinoceras martyr | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Placentalia |
| Order: | †Dinocerata |
| Family: | †Prodinoceratidae |
| Genus: | †Prodinoceras Matthew, Granger & Simpson, 1929 |
| Species | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Description
editProdinoceras was rather large, reaching 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) in length.[2] It is also regarded as the most basal uintathere, as, although it had the characteristic fang-like tusks, it had yet to evolve the characteristic knob-like horns. The genus also bears 3 upper incisors, a trait lacking in later dinocerates. The astragalus also possesses a distinct neck and the trochlear facet is not expanded.[3]
Classification
editProdinoceras possesses traits that indicate it is a sister group to the other derived dinocerates.[4] Most literature posits Prodinoceras and Probathyopsis as close relatives.[1][3]
Phylogeny of dinocerates, in accordance with Scott et al.[4]
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Prodinoceras | |
References
edit
- 1 2 Simpson, George Gaylord. "A new Paleocene uintathere and molar evolution in the Amblypoda. American Museum novitates ; no. 387". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 2025-10-06.
- ↑ "Paleocene mammals of the world". Archived from the original on 11 September 2022.
- 1 2 "Systematics and evolution of Probathyopsis (Mammalia, Dinocerata) from the late Paleocene and early Eocene of western North America / by J.G.M. Thewissen and P.D. Gingerich". discover.library.wales. Retrieved 2025-10-06.
- 1 2 Janis, Christine M.; Scott, Kathleen M.; Jacobs, Louis L. (1998-05-28). Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America: Volume 1, Terrestrial Carnivores, Ungulates, and Ungulate Like Mammals. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-35519-3.