''Colodon'' is an extinct genus of herbivorous mammals that were related to

tapirs Tapirs ( ) are large, herbivorous mammals belonging to the family Tapiridae. They are similar in shape to a Suidae, pig, with a short, prehensile nose trunk (proboscis). Tapirs inhabit jungle and forest regions of South America, South and Centr ...

of today.L. T. Holbrook. 1999. The Phylogeny and classification of tapiromorph perissodactyls (Mammalia). Cladistics 15(3):331-350

Taxonomy

Species of ''Colodon'' were originally placed within the genus ''

Lophiodon ''Lophiodon'' (from , 'crest' and 'tooth') is an extinct genus of mammal related to chalicotheres. It lived in Eocene Europe , and was previously thought to be closely related to ''Hyrachyus''. ''Lophiodon'' was named and described by Georges ...

'' but were later found to be distinct.

Description

''Colodon'' had small or absent canines and short, broad cheek teeth. The skull had a greatly enlarged narial incision and greatly reduced nasals. Similarities between the skulls of ''Colodon'' and true tapirs suggest it may have had a very small trunk as well. ''Colodon'' first appeared in the Late Eocene and lasted until the

Whitneyan The Whitneyan North American Stage on the geologic timescale is the North American faunal stage according to the North American Land Mammal Ages chronology (NALMA), typically set from 33,300,000 to 30,800,000 years BP, a period of . It is usuall ...

References

Helaletidae Prehistoric tapirs Eocene Perissodactyla Eocene mammals of North America Oligocene Perissodactyla Oligocene mammals of North America Taxa named by Othniel Charles Marsh Fossil taxa described in 1890 {{paleo-oddtoedungulate-stub