''Paratapirus'' is an extinct genus of tapir known from the
Late Oligocene
The Chattian is, in the geologic timescale, the younger of two ages or upper of two stages of the Oligocene Epoch/Series. It spans the time between . The Chattian is preceded by the Rupelian and is followed by the Aquitanian (the lowest stage ...
and
Early Miocene
The Early Miocene (also known as Lower Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages.
The sub-epoch lasted from 23.03 ± 0.05 Ma to 15.97 ± 0.05 Ma (million years ago). It was prece ...
of
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
.
Taxonomy
Two species are considered valid:
*''P. helveticus''
*''P. intermedius''
The species ''P. moguntiacus'' and ''P. robustus'' are considered synonyms of ''P. intermedius''. Members of this genus were originally described under the name ''Palaeotapirus'' along with several other tapir genera, but that name is now considered abandoned since it was described from poor diagnostic material.
Description
![Tapirus helveticus](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Tapirus_helveticus.jpg)
''Paratapirus'' was among the earliest known tapirs, and probably evolved from ''
Protapirus
''Protapirus'' (Latin: "before" (pro), + Brazilian Indian: "tapir" (tapira)) is an extinct genus of tapir known from the Oligocene and Miocene of North America and Eurasia.
Taxonomy
The type species is ''Protapirus priscus'' from the Late Oligoce ...
'' which had migrated into
Eurasia
Eurasia (, ) is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it spans from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Japanese archipelago a ...
from
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
near the end of the Oligocene.
In comparison to ''Protapirus'' it had more derived dentition, such as molar-like premolars..
References
Prehistoric tapirs
Oligocene odd-toed ungulates
Oligocene mammals of Europe
Miocene odd-toed ungulates
Miocene mammals of Europe
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