Moropus
Name: Moropus
(Slow/sloth foot).
Phonetic: More-oh-pus.
Named By: Othniel Charles Marsh - 1877.
Synonyms: Chalicotherium merriami,
Lophiodon oregonensis, Macrotherium merriami, Moropus cooki,
Macrotherium matthewi, Moropus parvus, Moropus petersoni.
Classification: Chordata, Mammalia,
Chalicotherioidea, Chalicotheriidae, Schizotheriinae.
Species: M. distans
(type), M. elatus, M. hollandi, M. matthewi,
M. merriami, M. oregonensis, M. senex.
Diet: Herbivore.
Size: About 2.4 meters tall at the shoulder.
Known locations: Across the United States.
Time period: Aquitanian through to Langhian of the
Miocene.
Fossil representation: Remains of multiple
individuals.
Moropus seems to have been larger than most other chalicotheres, and its broad distribution and numerous remains indicate that it was one of the most common animals alive in North America during the early stages of the Miocene. Moropus also seems to have not walked upon its knuckles to protect its claws like most other chalicotheres, presumably because its larger size meant increased weight, so not walking like other chalicotheres would mean a reduction in strain upon the knuckles. Another chalicothere believed to have done this is Ancylotherium.
Further reading
- A new species of Moropus (M.
Hollandi) from the base of the
middle Miocene of western Nebraska, O. A. Peterson - 1913.
- The osteology of the Chalicotheroidea, with special reference to
a mounted skeleton of Moropus elatus Marsh, now
installed in the
Carnegie Museum, W. J. Holland & O. A. Peterson
- 1914.
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