Jump to content

Amphiprox

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Amphiprox
Temporal range: Mid Miocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Genus: Amphiprox
Haupt, 1933[1]
Species:
A. anocerus
Binomial name
Amphiprox anocerus
Kaup, 1833
Synonyms

Cervus anocerus Kaup, 1833

Amphiprox is an extinct genus of early deer from the Miocene of Europe.[2]

Taxonomy

[edit]

Amphiprox anocerus was originally placed in the genus Cervus, along with many other early deer. It was related to other primitive deer like Euprox and Heteroprox and together these early forms represent the first major radiation of cervids.

Description

[edit]

Amphiprox was a small deer, around 25 kg (55 lb) in weight. It was rather long-legged and had small two-pronged antlers.[3]

Paleoecology

[edit]

The long legs of Amphiprox indicate that it may have been adapted to more open habitats, and perhaps even mountainous ones. The teeth suggest it was a grazer, or even an omnivore.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Amphiprox". Biolib.
  2. ^ Böhme, M. (2015). "Large herbivore mammals and crocodiles from the Eppelsheim Formation and their biostratigraphy". PLOS ONE. 7 (5). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036817.t003.
  3. ^ a b Agustí, Jordi; Antón, Mauricio (2002). Mammoths, Sabertooths, and Hominids: 65 Million Years of Mammalian Evolution in Europe. Columbia University Press. p. 159. ISBN 9780231116411.