Agriochoerus is an extinct genus of scansorialherbivore of the tylopodfamily Agriochoeridae, endemic to North America.[1]Agriochoerus and other agriochoerids possessed claws, which is rare within Artiodactyla, as well as likely being scansorial.[2][3]Agriochoerus was first described in 1869.[4]
Agriochoerus lived during the late Eocene and the Oligocene.[5] It was medium-sized, the estimated body mass for A. antiquus being about 85 kilograms (187 lb).[6]
Agriochoerus was about the size of a sheep, weighing around 85 kilograms.[4] Like other agriochoerids, it possessed a body shape unusual for an artiodactyl. The body was rather elongated and supported by more elongated and slender limbs than those of others within the Merycoidodontoidea. The front legs were five-toed, with an atrophied thumb, while the hind legs had only four toes. The tail was long and heavy. Another unusual characteristic for the artiodactyls was the presence of true claws, as confirmed by the shape of the phalanges. The skull was long and thin, but the muzzle was rather short. There were two robust upper canines; these teeth were separated from the premolars by a long diastema; the incisors were very small. The last lower premolar had become identical to a true molar, while the upper one was nearly molar. This phenomenon is rare in artiodactyls, but is found in Dichodon, where the fourth premolar is more complex than the molars. The elongated trunk was equipped with lumbar vertebrae similar to those of cats; the legs also resembled those of the felids. The distal end of the humerus, with its lower trochlea and the capitellum similar to that of Anoplotheriidae, indicates freedom of movement similar to that present within the Cainotheriidae.[4]
Classificationedit
The genus Agriochoerus was described for the first time in 1850 by Joseph Leidy; the type species is Agriochoerus antiquus, whose fossils have been found in Eocene and Oligocene sediments of Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas and Saskatchewan. Other species attributed to the same genus are A. gaudryi, A. guyotianus, A. crassus, A. major, A. maximus, and A. minimus, all coming from the Eocene–Oligocene of North America. Agriochoerus is the eponymous genus of the Agriochoeridae, a group of artiodactyl mammals similar to Merycoidodontidae, but distinguishable from the latter for a series of characteristics of the skeleton and of the dentition. Agriochoerus appears to have been the most specialized agriochoerid.[3]
Paleoecologyedit
The morphology of the teeth indicates that Agriochoerus shows that this animal was herbivorous, even if the "feline" skeletal anatomy and the presence of claws (as opposed to hooves) are more reminiscent of carnivores. Some scholars have hypothesized that Agriochoerus was able to climb trees, due to the presence of strong claws;[3] other scholars have proposed that Agriochoerus was able to dig burrows or excavate roots to feed on.[4]
^"Agriochoerus Leidy 1850 (agriochoerid)". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
^Janis, Christine M.; Scott, Kathleen M.; Jacobs, Louis L. (1998). Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America: Volume 1, Terrestrial Carnivores, Ungulates, and Ungulate like Mammals. Cambridge University Press. p. 416. ISBN9780521355193.
^ abcCoombs, MC; 1983 "Large Mammalian Clawed Herbivores: A Comparative Study." Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. 73(3).
^ abcdLeidy, J; 1869 "The extinct mammalian fauna of Dakota and Nebraska, including an account of some allied forms from other localities, together with a synopsis of the mammalian remains of North America." Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. 2: 1–472.
^Thorpe, M. R. (1921). "Two new forms of Agriochoerus" (PDF). American Journal of Science (8): 111–126. doi:10.2475/ajs.s5-2.8.111.
^"Agriochoerus". Archived from the original on December 16, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
agriochoerus, extinct, genus, scansorial, herbivore, tylopod, family, agriochoeridae, endemic, north, america, other, agriochoerids, possessed, claws, which, rare, within, artiodactyla, well, likely, being, scansorial, first, described, 1869, temporal, range, . Agriochoerus is an extinct genus of scansorial herbivore of the tylopod family Agriochoeridae endemic to North America 1 Agriochoerus and other agriochoerids possessed claws which is rare within Artiodactyla as well as likely being scansorial 2 3 Agriochoerus was first described in 1869 4 AgriochoerusTemporal range Late Eocene Oligocene40 4 20 43 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg NA antiquus skeletonScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder ArtiodactylaFamily AgriochoeridaeGenus AgriochoerusLeidy 1850SpeciesA antiquus A crassus A gaudryi A guyotianus A major A maximusAgriochoerus lived during the late Eocene and the Oligocene 5 It was medium sized the estimated body mass for A antiquus being about 85 kilograms 187 lb 6 Contents 1 Description 2 Classification 3 Paleoecology 4 ReferencesDescription edit nbsp Life reconstruction of Agriochoerus antiquusAgriochoerus was about the size of a sheep weighing around 85 kilograms 4 Like other agriochoerids it possessed a body shape unusual for an artiodactyl The body was rather elongated and supported by more elongated and slender limbs than those of others within the Merycoidodontoidea The front legs were five toed with an atrophied thumb while the hind legs had only four toes The tail was long and heavy Another unusual characteristic for the artiodactyls was the presence of true claws as confirmed by the shape of the phalanges The skull was long and thin but the muzzle was rather short There were two robust upper canines these teeth were separated from the premolars by a long diastema the incisors were very small The last lower premolar had become identical to a true molar while the upper one was nearly molar This phenomenon is rare in artiodactyls but is found in Dichodon where the fourth premolar is more complex than the molars The elongated trunk was equipped with lumbar vertebrae similar to those of cats the legs also resembled those of the felids The distal end of the humerus with its lower trochlea and the capitellum similar to that of Anoplotheriidae indicates freedom of movement similar to that present within the Cainotheriidae 4 Classification editThe genus Agriochoerus was described for the first time in 1850 by Joseph Leidy the type species is Agriochoerus antiquus whose fossils have been found in Eocene and Oligocene sediments of Nebraska South Dakota Texas and Saskatchewan Other species attributed to the same genus are A gaudryi A guyotianus A crassus A major A maximus and A minimus all coming from the Eocene Oligocene of North America Agriochoerus is the eponymous genus of the Agriochoeridae a group of artiodactyl mammals similar to Merycoidodontidae but distinguishable from the latter for a series of characteristics of the skeleton and of the dentition Agriochoerus appears to have been the most specialized agriochoerid 3 Paleoecology editThe morphology of the teeth indicates that Agriochoerus shows that this animal was herbivorous even if the feline skeletal anatomy and the presence of claws as opposed to hooves are more reminiscent of carnivores Some scholars have hypothesized that Agriochoerus was able to climb trees due to the presence of strong claws 3 other scholars have proposed that Agriochoerus was able to dig burrows or excavate roots to feed on 4 nbsp Skeletal reconstruction of AgriochoerusReferences edit nbsp Paleontology portal Agriochoerus Leidy 1850 agriochoerid Paleobiology Database Retrieved August 8 2012 Janis Christine M Scott Kathleen M Jacobs Louis L 1998 Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America Volume 1 Terrestrial Carnivores Ungulates and Ungulate like Mammals Cambridge University Press p 416 ISBN 9780521355193 a b c Coombs MC 1983 Large Mammalian Clawed Herbivores A Comparative Study Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 73 3 a b c d Leidy J 1869 The extinct mammalian fauna of Dakota and Nebraska including an account of some allied forms from other localities together with a synopsis of the mammalian remains of North America Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia 2 1 472 Thorpe M R 1921 Two new forms of Agriochoerus PDF American Journal of Science 8 111 126 doi 10 2475 ajs s5 2 8 111 Agriochoerus Archived from the original on December 16 2012 Retrieved August 8 2012 nbsp This prehistoric even toed ungulate related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Agriochoerus amp oldid 1178863931, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
