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''Merycodus'' is an extinct
genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
of the
artiodactyl The even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla , ) are ungulates—hoofed animals—which bear weight equally on two (an even number) of their five toes: the third and fourth. The other three toes are either present, absent, vestigial, or pointing poster ...
family
Antilocapridae The Antilocapridae are a family of artiodactyls endemic to North America. Their closest extant relatives are the giraffids with which they comprise the superfamily Giraffoidea. Only one species, the pronghorn (''Antilocapra americana''), is ...
. Fossils of this genus have been found in the Santa Fe Group of
New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
.


Taxonomy

''Merycodus'' has had a confusing taxonomic history. The closely related ''Meryceros'' and ''Submeryceros'' are generally regarded as synonynous with ''Merycodus''. One described species known as ''Merycodus grandis'' has now been reclassified as a species of '' Prosynthetoceras''. Another former species, ''M. furcatus'' is now placed in '' Cosoryx''.


Description

''Merycodus'' had relatively short horn shafts with tines of nearly equal size that were about as long as the shaft. Species traditionally included in ''Meryceros'' had horns that were generally larger and more laterally compressed.


References

Prehistoric even-toed ungulate genera Prehistoric pronghorns Miocene even-toed ungulates Miocene mammals of North America {{paleo-eventoedungulate-stub