In Depth Phiomicetus is a genus of protocetid whale that lived in North Africa during the Eocene. Analysis of the jaws and teeth shows that Phiomicetus would have been a powerful predator, possibly feeding upon a variety of prey animals. Phiomicetus also seems to have still been capable of easily walking about on land when … Read more
In Depth Joumocetus is a genus of whale that is known to have lived in the Pacific waters of what is now Japan during the Miocene. Further Reading - A new baleen whale (Mysticeti: Cetotheriidae) from the earliest late Miocene of Japan and a reconsideration of the phylogeny of cetotheres. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology … Read more
In Depth Imagine a rhinoceros with several smaller horns on top of its head and forward teeth similar to a sabre-toothed cat and you have a rough idea to what Uintatherium looked like. Although first named by Joseph Leidy in 1872, Uintatherium would become involved in the ‘bone wars’, a well-publicised feud between the palaeontologists … Read more
In Depth Brachyhyops was an early entelodont that roamed across North America long before the emergence of large entelodonts such as Daeodon. There is some confusion about Brachyhyops however regarding another genus called Eoentelodon from Asia. In 2004 Eoentelodon was found to the same genus as Brachyhyops in a study by Lucas and Emry, however … Read more
In Depth Meherrinia is an extinct genus of river dolphin that lived in the United States during the late Miocene. Study of the holotype remains has revealed that Meherrinia may be an example of a river dolphin that actually inhabited a marine environment, living in salt water as opposed to fresh water. Further Reading - … Read more
In Depth As a primitive Eocene era horse Orohippus is thought to have primarily been a browser, which means it ate leaves of plants rather than grazing grass. However the teeth are also more suited for grinding rather than slicing which suggests a specialisation in eating tougher kinds of vegetation. Orohippus is thought to … Read more
In Depth One of the most striking characteristics of Leptictidium are the well-developed hind legs that are considered to have made this creature one of the rare few bipedal mammals (the others being humans and the macropods such as kangaroos and wallabies). The biggest problem with Leptictidium however is that we can’t be certain as … Read more
In Depth Docofossor is a genus of mammaliform that lived in China during the late Jurassic. Docofossor is noted as having similar features as modern day members of Chrysochloridae, better known as golden moles, leading researchers to suggest that Docofossor may have lived a similar life, using powerful fore arms to dig into the ground … Read more
In Depth An exciting find, the genus name of this whale is a reference to the golden colouration of the bones of the type specimen. It is important to note that should further fossilised bones of this genus be discovered they might not have the same colouration since the colour of holotype bones was due … Read more
In Depth Miacis is often heralded as being the progenitor of the Carnivora, one of the main groups of carnivorous mammals that today include predators such as big cats, wolves and mustelids among others. However most of the known species of Miacis are considered to actually be members of the Carnivoramorpha, a group of predator … Read more