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Dichobunidae
Dichobunids
15
Number of resurrected species:
Family
Order
Class
Dichobunidae
Artiodactyla
Mammalia
Description
The Dichobunidae are among the oldest hooved mammals known to science! In life, they would have resembled a chevrotain with a long tail and several toes with small hooves. They were probably fast-running animals due to their long limbs and slender build body. The shape of their teeth suggests they were browsers, feeding on small leaves in the undergrowth of dense forests or semi-open landscapes.
Distribution & Fossil evidence
Fossils of Dichobunids have been found in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere of which some are extremely well preserved, still retaining fur, "skin shadows" and fossilized content of their guts.
Species
There are many species of Dichobunid known and most of them are about as large as a cat. The smallest member, Herbertlutzius, just reached 10 cm in length!
Included genera
Metriotherium, Eygalayodon, Elaschitotherium, Herbertlutzius, Aksyiria, Mouillacitherium, Buxobune, Eurodexis, Messelobunodon, Dichobune, Aumelasia, Meniscodon, Protodichobune, Diacodexis, Eolantianius
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