Hyracodon

‭H‬y-rac-o-don.
Published on

John Stewart

Paleoecologist

John Stewart is a distinguished paleoecologist whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of prehistoric ecosystems. With over two decades dedicated to unearthing fossils across Asia and Africa

Cite Feedback Print

Name

Hyracodon ‭(‬Hyrax tooth‭)‬.

Phonetic

‭H‬y-rac-o-don.

Named By

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Mammalia,‭ ‬Perissodactyla,‭ ‬Hyracodontidae.

Diet

Herbivore.

Species

H.‭ ‬browni‭

Size

About‭ ‬1.5‭ ‬meters long.

Known locations

Across North America.

Time Period

Lutetian of the Eocene through to Aquitanian of the Miocene.

Fossil representation

Remains of well over‭ ‬100‭ ‬individuals.

In Depth

       Although Hyracodon looks a lot like a primitive horse,‭ ‬this genus actually represents a form of prehistoric rhino.‭ ‬Hyracodon is the type genus of the Hyracodontidae,‭ ‬a group of so called‭ ‘‬running rhinoceroses that fulfilled a similar ecological niche as primitive horses such as Mesohippus.‭ ‬Hyracodon seem to have inhabited a variety of ecosystems,‭ ‬and were probably browsers because the forward teeth in the mouth were not as well suited to cropping grass as those of dedicated grazers.‭ ‬This may in part be why Hyracodon declined and disappeared during the late Oligocene and early Miocene,‭ ‬because during this time,‭ ‬starting back in the Eocene,‭ ‬the landscape of North America was changing from large expanses of forest to open grasslands.‭ ‬This meant a loss of suitable habitat along with the appearance of better adapted herbivores,‭ ‬and in turn better adapted predators,‭ ‬that all combined together to out compete earlier forms of animals like Hyracodon into extinction.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬A new species of Hyracodon‭ (‬H.‭ ‬priscidens‭) ‬from the Oligocene of the Cypress Hills,‭ ‬Assiniboia,‭ ‬L.‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Lambe‭ ‬-‭ ‬1905.

Adopt A Species
prehistoric-wildlife new logo

Love this species?

Adopt it today!

(UPDATED!)

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT