Hyrachyus

Hyrachyus
Temporal range: Eocene
Fossil
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Superfamily: Rhinocerotoidea
Family: †Hyrachyidae
Genus: †Hyrachyus
Leidy, 1871
Species
  • H. affinis
  • H. bicornutus
  • H. douglassi
  • H. eximius
  • H. modestus
  • H. minimus
  • ?H. stehlini

Hyrachyus (from Hyrax and Ancient Greek: ὗς "pig") is an extinct genus of perissodactyl mammal that lived in Eocene Europe, North America, and Asia. Its remains have also been found in Jamaica. It is closely related to Lophiodon.

Description

The 1.5-m-long beast was related to palaeotheres, and suspected to be the ancestor of modern tapirs and rhinoceroses. Physically, it would have looked very similar to modern tapirs, although it probably lacked the tapir's characteristic proboscis. Its teeth, however, resembled those of a rhinoceros, supporting the idea of its relationship with that group.

Restoration of H. eximius
Restoration of H. eximius
skeleton
skeleton