Miocene Artiodactyla

thumb|Daeodon shoshonensis life restoration thumb|Daeodon (Dinohyus) hollandi, complete skeleton from the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument|Agate Springs Fossil Quarry in Nebraska. See text for nomenclature history

Samotherium ("beast of Samos") is an extinct genus belonging to the family Giraffidae from the Miocene and Pliocene of Eurasia and Africa. Samotherium had two ossicones on its head and possessed long legs. The ossicones usually pointed upward, and were curved backwards, with males having larger, more curved ossicones, though in the Chinese species, S. sinense, the straight ossicones point laterally, not upwards. The genus is closely related to Shansitherium. Fossil evidence suggests that Samotherium had a rounded muzzle, which would suggest a grazing lifestyle and a habitat composed of grassla

Protoceratidae is an extinct family of herbivorous North American artiodactyls (even-toed ungulates) that lived during the Eocene through Pliocene. While early members of the group were hornless, in later members males developed elaborate cranial ornamentation. They are variously allied with Ruminantia or Tylopoda.

Aepycamelus is an extinct genus of camelids that lived during the Miocene 20.6–4.9 million years ago, existing for about . Its name is derived from the Homeric Greek , "high and steep" and κάμηλος – "camel"; thus, "high camel"; alticamelus in Latin.

Syndyoceras is a small extinct genus of Artiodactyla, of the family Protoceratidae, endemic to central North America from the Miocene epoch (23.1—18.5 Ma), existing for approximately .

Palaeotragus ("ancient goat") is a genus of very large, primitive, okapi-like giraffids from the Miocene to Early Pleistocene of Africa and Eurasia.

Giraffokeryx is an extinct genus of medium-sized giraffids known from the Miocene of the Indian subcontinent and Eurasia. It is distinguished from other giraffids by the four ossicones on its head; one pair in front of the eyes on the anterior aspect of the frontal bone and the other behind the eyes in the frontoparietal region overhanging the temporal fossae. It has a brachydont dentition like in other giraffids and its legs and feet are of medium length. Giraffokeryx is considered monotypic by most authors, in the form of G. punjabiensis, but other species have been assigned to the genus: G

Platygonus ("flat head" in reference to the straight shape of the forehead) is an extinct genus of herbivorous peccaries of the family Tayassuidae, endemic to North and South America from the Miocene through Pleistocene epochs (10.3 million to 11,000 years ago), existing for about . P. compressus stood tall.

Titanotylopus is an extinct genus of camel (tribe Camelini), endemic to North America from the late Hemphillian stage of the Miocene through the Irvingtonian stage of the Pleistocene. It was one of the last surviving North American camels; after its extinction, only Camelops remained.

Synthetoceras is an extinct genus of large protoceratid that was endemic to North America during the Late Miocene (12.5-4.7 million years ago), existing for approximately 7.8 million years. Fossils have been recovered from Nebraska and Texas. Two species have been described: S. tricornatus (the type species) and S. davisorum.

Schansitherium ("beast of Shanxi") is an extinct genus of superficially moose-like or antelope-like giraffids from the late Miocene epoch of Shanxi Province, China. They are closely related to the genus Samotherium.

Stenomylus is an extinct genus of miniature camelid native to North America that is known from the Oligocene and Miocene epochs(23.1~16.3Ma). Its name is derived from the Greek (, "narrow") and (, "molar").

Merycoidodon ("ruminating teeth") is an extinct genus of herbivorous artiodactyl of the family Merycoidodontidae, more popularly known by the name Oreodon ("hillock teeth"). It was endemic to North America during the Middle Eocene to Middle Miocene (46—16 mya) existing for approximately .

Helladotherium is an extinct genus of sivatheriine giraffid which inhabited Europe, Africa, and Asia during the Miocene. The most complete skeleton is that of a female, based on a comparison with an intact female Sivatherium giganteum skull.

Kenyapotamus is an extinct genus of hippopotamid and possible ancestor of living hippopotamuses that lived roughly 16 million to 8 million years ago during the Miocene epoch. Its name reflects that its fossils were first found in modern-day Kenya.

Kubanochoerus is an extinct genus of large, long-legged suid artiodactyl mammal from the Miocene of Eurasia and Africa.

Honanotherium is a genus of extinct giraffid from the late Miocene of Henan Province, China, and East Azerbaijan Province, northwestern Iran. It was closely related to Bohlinia and was once thought to be ancestral to the modern giraffe (genus Giraffa). The living animal would have resembled a modern giraffe, but was somewhat shorter, with more massive ossicones.

Merycopotamus is an extinct genus of Asian anthracothere that appeared during the Middle Miocene, and died out in the Late Pliocene. At the height of the genus' influence, species ranged throughout South Asia and South East Asia (Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand). With the extinction of the last species, M. dissimilis, the lineage of anthracotheres came to an end. Merycopotamus was closely related to the anthracothere genus Libycosaurus, which, unlike the former, never left Africa. In fact, some African fossils originally placed in Merycopotamus, but are now referred to Libycosaurus.

Oxydactylus is an extinct genus of camelid endemic to North America. It lived from the Late Oligocene to the Middle Miocene (28.4–13.7 mya), existing for approximately . The name is from the Ancient Greek οξύς (oxys, "sharp")and δάκτυλος (daktylos, "finger").

thumb | right | Archaeopotamus Archaeopotamus is an extinct genus of Hippopotamidae that lived between 7.5 and 2.58 million years ago in Africa and the Middle East. The genus was described in 2005 to encompass species of hippos that were previously grouped in Hexaprotodon.

Protoceras ('first horn') is an extinct genus of Artiodactyla, of the family Protoceratidae, endemic to North America. It lived from the Oligocene to the Early Miocene 33.3—16.0 Ma, existing for approximately .

Libycosaurus ("Lizard of Libya") was one of the last anthracothere genera. It lived from the Middle to the Late Miocene, and ranged throughout Central and Northern Africa, and in Uganda, in what was then a lush, marshy environment.

Eotragus is an extinct genus of early bovid. Members of this genus had a wide range inhabiting Europe, Africa, and Asia during the Miocene around 20-18 million years ago. It is related to the modern nilgai and four-horned antelope. It was small and probably lived in woodland environments.

Hoplitomeryx is a genus of extinct deer-like ruminants which lived on the former Gargano Island during the Miocene and the Early Pliocene, now a peninsula on the east coast of Southern Italy. Hoplitomeryx, also known as "prongdeer", had five horns and sabre-like upper canines similar to a modern musk deer.

thumb|Xenokeryx cranial fossils Xenokeryx ("strange horn" in Greek) is an extinct genus of ruminant known from the Miocene of Europe. The type species, Xenokeryx amidalae, was recovered from central Spain and bears a unique T-shaped protrusion from the top of the head. The specific epithet amidalae is in reference to the character Padmé Amidala from the Star Wars films "due to the striking resemblance that the occipital appendage of Xenokeryx bears to one of the hairstyles that the aforementioned character shows in The Phantom Menace feature film."

Brachycrus is an extinct genus of oreodont, of the family Merycoidodontidae, endemic to North America. They lived during the Middle Miocene, 16.0—13.6 mya, existing for approximately .

Dicrocerus elegans is an extinct species of deer found in France, Europe. Dicrocerus probably came from Asia, from the region where true deer are believed to have originated and evolved. It inhabited forests in the temperate belt and in Europe it was typical of the Miocene (15-5 million years ago).

left|thumb|188x188px|Mummified Procamelus head Procamelus is an extinct genus of camel endemic to North America. It lived from the Middle to Late Miocene 16.3—5.3 mya, existing for approximately . The name is derived from the Greek πρό, meaning "before" or denoting priority of order, and κάμελος ("camel"), thus meaning "fore-camel", "early camel" or "predecessor camel".

left|thumb|234x234px|Lithograph from 1896

Ilingoceros is an extinct genus of pronghorn artiodactyl from the Late Miocene of North America.

Blastomeryx is an extinct genus of musk deer endemic to North America. It lived during the Miocene epoch 20.4—10.3 mya, existing for approximately . There may be only one species, Blastomeryx gemmifer. == Description == Blastomeryx was long and looked like a modern chevrotain. Its canines were elongated into tusks which it probably used to uproot plants and fend off predators. While Blastomeryx (as well as modern musk deer) lacked antlers, a Middle Miocene species had bony knobs on its skull, which have been interpreted as incipient horns. Blastomeryx had a reduced radius and ulna, as well as

Dorcatherium is an extinct genus of tragulid ruminant which existed in Europe, East Africa, and the Siwaliks during the Miocene and possibly Pliocene.

Hemiauchenia is an extinct genus of lamine camelids that evolved in North America in the Miocene epoch about 10 million years ago. This genus diversified and entered South America in the Late Pliocene about three to two million years ago, as part of the Great American Biotic Interchange. The genus became extinct at the end of the Pleistocene. The monophyly of the genus has been considered questionable, with phylogenetic analyses finding the genus to paraphyletic or polyphyletic, with some species suggested to be more closely related to living lamines (llamas and relatives) than to other Hemiau

Merycochoerus (Greek: "ruminant" (merux)-like "swine" (khoiros)) is an extinct genus of oreodont of the family Merycoidodontidae, endemic to North America. They lived during the Early Oligocene 33.9—30.8 mya, existing for approximately . Fossils are widespread through the western United States.

Hypertragulidae is an extinct family of Paleogene ruminants endemic to North America from the Eocene until the Oligocene.

Listriodon is an extinct genus of pig-like animals that lived in Eurasia during the Miocene.

Climacoceras (from Greek for "ladder horns") is a genus of extinct artiodactyl ungulates that lived in Africa and Europe during the Miocene. The members of Climacoceras were related to giraffes, and the genus was formerly placed within the Giraffidae, but is now placed in the Climacoceratidae, a sister group within the superfamily Giraffoidea. Fossils of the two best known species of Climacoceras, C. africanus and C. gentryi, have both been found in Kenya. The animals measured about tall and had large ossicones resembling antlers. C. africanus had ossicones resembling tall, thorn-covered plant

Megacamelus is an extinct genus of terrestrial herbivore in the family Camelidae, endemic to North America from the Miocene through Pliocene 10.3—4.9 mya, existing for approximately .

Injanatherium is an extinct genus of giraffids from the Miocene of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Species of Injanatherium had at least two pairs of long, wing-like ossicones that emanated laterally above the orbits.

Osbornoceros is an extinct artiodactyl genus of the family Antilocapridae. All antilocaprid species are extinct except for the pronghorn. Osbornoceros osborni is the only known species of the genus Osbornoceros. Osbornoceros lived during the Late Miocene around 7 to 6 million years ago in what is now North America. It is well represented in fossil discoveries, with nearly a dozen specimens having been found to date. All come from the Chamita Formation in a quarry near Lyden, New Mexico, the site of numerous other finds such as that of Chamitataxus, a prehistoric badger that lived at the same t

Dromomeryx is an extinct genus of Artiodactyla, of the family Dromomerycidae, endemic to North America. left|thumb|D. borealis skull thumb|left|Restoration of Aepycamelus and Dromomeryx (background)|266x266px == References ==

left|thumb|Skull, Hong Kong Science Museum Chleuastochoerus is an extinct genus in the pig family that lived in the Miocene and Pliocene in Russia and Eastern Asia.

Megatylopus (also known as the North American camel) is an extinct genus of large camel, endemic to North America from the Late Miocene to the Pliocene, existing for approximately . Fossil distribution ranged from North Carolina to California. It stood about tall.

Paraentelodon is an extinct entelodont from the Late Oligocene of Asia. The fossils of the type species P. intermedium were found in Georgia, Kazakhstan and China. An indeterminate species represents in Bugti Hills which is the late Oligocene of Pakistan.

Microstonyx was an extinct genus of suid that existed during the Miocene in Asia and Europe.

Heteroprox is an extinct genus of deer from the Miocene of Europe.

Protolabis is an extinct genus of camelid endemic to North America. It lived from the Early to Late Miocene 20.4—5.3 mya, existing for approximately . Fossil distribution is widespread from Nicaragua, Central America to Montana and throughout the western U.S.

Paratoceras is an extinct genus of Artiodactyla, of the family Protoceratidae, endemic to North America. They lived during the Early to Middle Miocene, 20.4—10.3 Ma, existing for approximately . Paratoceras resembled deer, but were probably more closely related to chevrotains. In addition to having horns on the top of the head, they had a third horn on the snout.

Hyotherium (meaning "pig beast", due to its resemblance to modern day pigs.) was an extinct genus of even-toed ungulates under the Hyotheriinae group (a group that also consists of Chicochoerus, Xenohyus and more) of the Suidae family. It existed during the Miocene in Europe and Perim Island, India. It was named by Von Mayer in 1834.

Mesoreodon is an extinct genus of terrestrial herbivore of the family Merycoidodontidae, subfamily Merycoidodontinae (the oreodonts), endemic to North America during the Whitneyan stage of the Oligocene-Miocene epochs (33—20.6 mya) existing for approximately .

Ampelomeryx is a genus of extinct herbivorous even-toed ungulate mammals belonging to the family Palaeomerycidae.

Hispanomeryx is an extinct genus of artiodactyl from the middle to late Miocene epoch, living from 13 to 8 million years ago. Over the years, they have been variously classified as being related to bovids or giraffes, or even belonging to their own unique family, but they are now widely regarded as moschids, relatives of the living musk deer.

Oioceros is an extinct genus of spiral-horned antelope from the late Miocene. Its fossils have been found in Greece, China, Iran, and Africa. It was first discovered by Wagner in 1857, and contains nine species, O. rothii, O. atropatenes, O. jiulongkouensis, O. noverca, O. robustus, O. stenocephalus, O. lishanensis, O. wegneri, and O. tanyceras. Former species include O. grangeri (Pilgrim, 1934), now recognized as the genus Sinomegoceros, and O. xiejiaensis (Li and Qui; 1980), now recognized as the genus Sinopalaeoceros.

Potamochoerini is a tribe of even-toed ungulates which encompasses the giant forest hogs and the river pigs.

thumb|left|Mandible of A. moruorotensis

Eporeodon is an extinct genus of oreodont belonging to the family Merycoidontidae. It lived from the Oligocene epoch 30.8—24.8 mya) existing for approximately .

Promerycochoerus ("Before Merycochoerus" or "Before Ruminating Hog") is an extinct genus of hippopotamus-like oreodont artiodactyl that lived in Central North America during the Early Miocene, 27.3—18.5 million years ago. thumb|left|Promerycochoerus superbus The 1 m (3 ft 4 in) long creature is thought to have been amphibious, as all species possessed an elongated, barrel-shaped body and short limbs that are typical adaptations found in semi-aquatic mammals. P. superbus had a long tapir-like face, while P. carrikeri had a short, somewhat pig-like face.

Hypertragulus is an extinct genus of hypertragulid ruminant endemic to North America. It lived from the Late Eocene to the Middle Miocene, living , existing for approximately .

Euprox is an extinct genus of deer that lived in Eurasia during the Miocene epoch.

Aguascalientia is an extinct genus of miniature camelids, endemic to North America (as far south as the Panama Canal) during the Early Miocene 23.0—20.4 mya existing for approximately .