In Depth Although the name Prosqualodon references a shark, this creature was actually one of the first members of the Odontoceti, better known as the modern toothed whales. Prosqualodon actually looked like a cross between a modern dolphin and an ichthyosaur from the Mesozoic. Prosqualodon has the typical cetacean body with a horizontally aligned tail … Read more
In Depth Hipparion was one of the earlier grazing horses that was similar to Merychippus in form. Like other ‘advanced’ horses of the Miocene, Hipparion supported its body weight upon a single toe that ended with a hoof. Other toes were also still present upon either side of this toe, but they had become so … Read more
In Depth Griphodon is a little known and little understood genus of mammal from South America. Further Reading - A new fossil perissodactyl from Peru. - American Museum Novitates 111:1–13 - H. E. Anothony - 1924.
In Depth A relatively small canid, Eucyon is one of the earliest true dogs to enter the fossil record. Living during the late Miocene it would have been in competition with larger and more dangerous predators such as the amphicyonids, however Eucyon and its relatives were better adapted to the on-going climatic changes of the … Read more
In Depth Plesiobalaenoptera is a genus of rorqual baleen whale that lived in the seas of Europe during the Miocene. Further Reading - A new balaenopterid whale from the late Miocene of the Stirone River, Northern Italy (Mammalia, Cetacea, Mysticeti). - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(3):943-958. - M. Bisconti - 2010.
In Depth Synthetoceras is one of the better known members of the Protoceratidae, and this is thanks to the head ornamentation of the males of this genus. Rising above the eyes and ears was a pair of horns that curved upwards forming a crescent shape when viewed from the front. Then things get a little … Read more
In Depth Squalodon is the type genus of the Squalodontidae, a group of prehistoric whales that in evolutionary terms of are intermediary between the older Archaeoceti whales like Basilosaurus and Zygorhiza, and the later whales of the Odontoceti which includes modern toothed cetaceans like the killer whale (Orcinus orca). Exactly how Squalodon and the other … Read more
In Depth Palaeolagus is essentially an Eocene/Oligocene version of today’s rabbits and hares, however, Palaeolagus was quite a bit more primitive than modern forms. The rear legs in particular are proportionately shorter that modern rabbits, which means that Palaeolagus had less ‘spring’ in its step and therefore could not run anywhere near as fast as … Read more
In Depth Babiacetus was a member of the Archaeoceti, a group of primitive whales that also includes genera such as Basilosaurus, Dorudon, Protocetus and Zygorhiza. Babiacetus seems to have lived more during the middle Eocene, though since the genus is currently only known for cranial remains, we do not know how well developed the actual … Read more
In Depth Nohochichak is a type of ground sloth known to have lived in Mexico during the late Pleistocene. Further Reading - A new genus of megalonychid ground sloth (Mammalia, Xenarthra) from the late Pleistocene of Quintana Roo, Mexico. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 37 (3): e1307206. - Gregory H. McDonald, James C. Chatters & … Read more