''Heptodon'' is an extinct

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

tapir Tapirs ( ) are large, herbivorous mammals belonging to the family Tapiridae. They are similar in shape to a pig, with a short, prehensile nose trunk. Tapirs inhabit jungle and forest regions of South and Central America, with one species inh ...

-type herbivore of the family Helaletidae endemic to North America during the Early

Eocene The Eocene ( ) Epoch is a geological epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era. The name ''Eocene'' comes from the Ancient Greek (''ēṓs'', " ...

. It lived from 50.3—48.6 mya, existing for approximately .''Heptodon'' at fossilworks
/ref> ''Heptodon'' was about in length, and closely resembled modern

s. The shape of the skull suggests that it probably lacked the characteristic tapir trunk. Instead it probably had a slightly elongated, fleshy upper lip, like its relative '' Helaletes''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2669763 Eocene odd-toed ungulates Eocene mammals of North America Taxa named by Edward Drinker Cope Fossil taxa described in 1882

See also

References