Biology:Gelocidae

Short description: Extinct family of mammals

Gelocidae Temporal range: Eocene–Late Miocene PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Gelocus communis mandibles, Museum of Natural History Basel
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Infraorder:	Tragulina
Family:	†Gelocidae Schlosser, 1886
Genera
Phaneromeryx Paragelocus Paragelocus Gelocus Pseudogelocus Prodremotherium Cryptomeryx Pseudoceras Gobiomeryx Rutitherium Eumeryx

The Gelocidae are an extinct family of hornless ruminantia that are estimated to have lived during the Eocene and Oligocene epochs, from 36 MYA to 6 MYA. The family generally includes ruminants with dental traits of both the Tragulina and Pecora, making it a notorious wastebasket taxon with unresolved affinities.

Description

Members of the family Gelocidae were long-legged, even-toed ungulates adapted for running and grazing. The Gelocidae likely share a close common ancestor with Moschidae and were of a similar size and shape. They had similar dentition and proportions to members of Moschidae, but lacked the sabre-like tusks of the modern musk deer.

Bibliography

Webb, S. D.; Taylor, B. E. (31 December 1980). "The phylogeny of hornless ruminants and a description of the cranium of Archaeomeryx.". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 167: 117–158. http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/handle/2246/1042. Retrieved 21 July 2016. 

Wikidata ☰ Q15057307 entry