Metamynodon

''Metamynodon'' is an extinct genus of amynodont rhino that lived in North America (White River Fauna) and Asia from the late Eocene until early Oligocene, although the questionable inclusion of ''M. mckinneyi'' could extend their range to the Middle Eocene. The various species were large, displaying a suit of semiaquatic adaptations similar to those of the modern hippopotamus despite their closer affinities with rhinoceroses.

Taxonomy

''Metamynodon'' is a member of the extinct family Amynodontidae, sometimes called "swamp rhinos" as they were once all believed to be semi-aquatic. It is split into two tribes: the semi-aquatic Metamynodontini–'' Paramynodon'', '' Sellamynodon'', '' Megalamynodon'', and ''Metamynodon''–and the tapir-like Cadurcodontini–'' Procadurcodon'', '' Zaisanamynodon'', '' Cadurcodon'', and '' Cadurcotherium''. The Metamynodontini are found across the world, with ''Paramynodon'' from Myanmar, ''Sellamynodon'' from Romania, and ''Megalamynodon'' and ''Metamynodon'' from North America. ''Megalamynodon'' is likely the ancestor of ''Metamynodon'', though it is possible it could have evolved from an Asiatic ancestor.

''Metamynodon'' was first described in 1887 by William Berryman Scott and Henry Fairfield Osborn based on a skull of ''M. planifrons'' found in the White River Formation.

In 1922, paleontologist Clive Forster-Cooper initially described tooth remains from Balochistan, Pakistan as ''M. bugtienses'' before returning 2 years later and reassigning it to the genus ''Paraceratherium''.

''Metamynodon'' bones are common in Early Oligocene riverbed deposits of Badlands National Park in South Dakota, giving them the nickname "the ''Metamynodon'' channels."

In 1981, a large jawbone, 41723-5, from Brewster County, Texas was described as ''M. mckinneyi'', named after one of the discoverers Billy Pat McKinney, and was found in an area dated to 43 mya in the Late Eocene. The jawbone and tusks were more massive than that of ''M. chadronensis'', and it could represent either a transitional phase between '' Amynodon'' and ''M. chadronensis'', or simply a migrant to the area.

Description

''Metamynodon planifrons'', the largest species, was about in length and in weight, and, although it was distantly related to modern rhinos, looked more like a hippo (''Hippopotamus amphibius''). Its front legs had four toes instead of the three found in modern rhinos.

Like other swamp rhinos, ''Metamynodon'' has large canines, and Metamynodonts generally have larger canines than other swamp rhinos. The shortened snout and large nostrils indicate ''Metamynodon'' had a prehensile lip. Metamynodonts were more brachycephalic and had a broader than longer snout. The nostrils would have been on the top portion of the snout like the modern hippo. As other aquatic mammals, ''Metamynodon'' had a poorer sense of smell than other swamp rhinos. The eyes were located high on the skull so it could see while also being completely submerged. It had a dental formula of .

Like other aquatic mammals, ''Metamynodon'' had small neural spines projecting upwards from the thoracic vertebrae, indicating weak neck muscles, which probably was due to buoyancy and a lack of necessity to support the head while submerged. The ribcage was broad and ''Metamynodon'' had a barrel-like chest similar to the hippo, which could either be an adaptation to an expanding digestive tract or to develop muscles necessary to prevent rolling over in the water. Like other aquatic mammals, the leg muscles–popliteus in the knee; gastrocnemius, soleus, and peroneus tertius in the calf; and extensor digitorum longus in the foot–were all large and well-developed, probably to exert more force while walking and to better wade through muddy soil.

Paleobiology

Like other Metamynodonts, ''Metamynodon'' was semi-aquatic. Like the modern hippo, ''Metamynodon'' was likely a grazer, feeding on grass and tough plant material at night and residing in the water during the day. Like hippos, males may have used their large tusks for fighting or for finding food in river banks. They went extinct in the Late Oligocene.

The Early Oligocene Badlands National Park were probably streams coursing through grasslands, gallery woodlands, and savannas. ''Metamynodon'' was probably abundant and restricted to the streams; common in the gallery woodlands were the horse ''Mesohippus'' and artiodactyl ''Merycoidodon''; and in the savannas there were the lagomorph '' Palaeolagus'', the deer-like ''Leptomeryx'' and ''Hypertragulus''. During the Whitneyan stage of the NALMA classification, still in the Early Oligocene, ''Metamynodon'' becomes more rare.

The Early Oligocene Badlands National Park had several carnivores: the dog-like ''Hyaenodon'', the dog ''Hesperocyon'', the bear dog ''Daphoenus'', the nimravid ''Dinictis'', and the weasel-like '' Paleogale''. It also had a wide array of other animals including: the entelodonts ''Daeodon'' and ''Archaeotherium''; the deer-like ''Leptomeryx'' and '' Protoceras''; the rodents '' Ischyromys'', '' Eumys'', and '' Megalagus''; the lizard ''Peltosaurus''; and the small metatherian ''Herpetotherium''. A turtle, '' Oligogopherous'', has also been found, along with isolated fish fossils.

See also

*''Astrapotherium''
*''Coryphodon''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2145432

Oligocene rhinoceroses
Cenozoic mammals of North America
Eocene animals of North America
Oligocene animals of North America
White River Fauna
Fossil taxa described in 1887