''Merycoides'' is an extinct

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

oreodont Merycoidodontoidea, previously known as "oreodonts" or " ruminating hogs," are an extinct superfamily of prehistoric cud-chewing artiodactyls with short faces and fang-like canine teeth. As their name implies, some of the better known forms we ...

of the subfamily

Merycoidodontinae Merycoidodontoidea, previously known as "oreodonts" or " ruminating hogs," are an extinct superfamily of prehistoric cud-chewing artiodactyls with short faces and fang-like canine teeth. As their name implies, some of the better known forms were ...

endemic to

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

. It lived during the

Oligocene The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch (geology), epoch of the Paleogene Geologic time scale, Period that extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that defin ...

Late Miocene The Late Miocene (also known as Upper Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch (geology), Epoch made up of two faunal stage, stages. The Tortonian and Messinian stages comprise the Late Miocene sub-epoch, which lasted from 11.63 Ma (million ye ...

, 30.8—16.0 mya, existing for approximately .''Merycoides'' at fossilworks
/ref> Fossils have been uncovered throughout the western U.S. as well as Florida.

Species

* ''M. cursor'' Douglass 1907 * ''M. harrisonensis'' Schultz & Falkenbach 1949 * ''M. longiceps'' Douglass 1907 * ''M. pariogonus'' Schultz & Falkenbach 1949 * ''M. relictus'' Cope 1884

References

Oreodonts Oligocene mammals of North America Oligocene Artiodactyla Chattian genus extinctions Rupelian genus first appearances Prehistoric Artiodactyla genera {{paleo-eventoedungulate-stub