Paratapirus is an extinct genus of tapir known from the Late Oligocene and Early Miocene of Europe.
| Paratapirus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Paratapirus intermedius mandible | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Perissodactyla |
| Family: | Tapiridae |
| Genus: | †Paratapirus Depéret & Douxami, 1902[1] |
| Type species | |
| †Paratapirus helveticus Meyer, 1867
| |
| Species | |
| |
Taxonomy
editTwo species are considered valid:
- P. helveticus
- P. intermedius
The species P. moguntiacus and P. robustus are considered synonyms of P. intermedius. Members of this genus were originally described under the name Palaeotapirus along with several other tapir genera, but that name is now considered abandoned since it was described from poor diagnostic material.[2]
Description
edit
Paratapirus was among the earliest known tapirs, and probably evolved from Protapirus which had migrated into Eurasia from North America near the end of the Oligocene.[3]
In comparison to Protapirus it had more derived dentition, such as molar-like premolars..[4]
References
edit- ^ "Paratapirus". Fossilworks.
- ^ Cerdeño, E.; Ginsburg, L. (1988). "European Oligocene and early Miocene Tapiridae (Perissodactyla, Mammalia)". Annales de Paléontologie. 74 (2): 71–96.
- ^ Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: Volume 18, Issues 1-2 1998. University of Oklahoma. 1998.
- ^ Agustí, Jordi; Antón, Mauricio (2002). Mammoths, Sabertooths, and Hominids: 65 Million Years of Mammalian Evolution in Europe. Columbia University Press. p. 95. ISBN 9780231116411.
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