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''Propalaeotherium'' was an early genus of perissodactyl endemic to Europe and Asia during the
''Propalaeotherium'' was named by Paul Gervais; its name means "before '' Palaeotherium''". It was considered a member of Palaeotheriidae by Hooker (1986). A 2004 study found it to be an equid instead. A 2016 study lumped the genus back within the Palaeotheriidae.
The species ''P. parvulum'' and ''P. messelensis'' have been alternately assigned to the equid genus ''
BBC Online Science and Nature
{{Taxonbar, from=Q133295 Eocene horses Eocene genus extinctions Eocene mammals of Europe Prehistoric placental genera Eocene mammals of Asia Fossil taxa described in 1849
early Eocene
In the geologic timescale the Ypresian is the oldest age or lowest stratigraphic stage of the Eocene. It spans the time between , is preceded by the Thanetian Age (part of the Paleocene) and is followed by the Eocene Lutetian Age. The Ypresian i ...
. There are currently six recognised species within the genus, with ''P. isselanum'' as the type species (named by Georges Cuvier
Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric, Baron Cuvier (; 23 August 1769 – 13 May 1832), known as Georges Cuvier, was a French natural history, naturalist and zoology, zoologist, sometimes referred to as the "founding father of paleontology". Cuvier ...
in 1824).
Taxonomy
''Propalaeotherium'' was named by Paul Gervais; its name means "before '' Palaeotherium''". It was considered a member of Palaeotheriidae by Hooker (1986). A 2004 study found it to be an equid instead. A 2016 study lumped the genus back within the Palaeotheriidae.
The species ''P. parvulum'' and ''P. messelensis'' have been alternately assigned to the equid genus ''Eurohippus
''Eurohippus'' is an extinct genus of equid ungulate. Its species were long considered part of ''Propalaeotherium
''Propalaeotherium'' was an early genus of perissodactyl endemic to Europe and Asia during the early Eocene. There are current ...
''.
Description
''Propalaeotherium'' was a small animal, ranging from 30–60 cm at the shoulder (2.9 to 5.9hands
A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered appendage located at the end of the forearm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs. A few other vertebrates such as the koala (which has two opposable thumbs on each " ...
), and weighing just . It looked similar to small tapirs. It had no hooves, but instead several small nail-like hooflets. The well-preserved Messel fossils showed their herbivory, specifically their preference to eat berries and leaf matter picked up from the forest floor.
See also
* Evolution of the horse *List of prehistoric mammals
This is an incomplete list of prehistoric mammals. It does not include extant mammals or recently extinct mammals. For extinct primate species, see: list of fossil primates.Mikko's Phylogeny Archiv
Mammaliaformes
'
*Genus †''Adelobasileus' ...
References
External links
BBC Online Science and Nature
{{Taxonbar, from=Q133295 Eocene horses Eocene genus extinctions Eocene mammals of Europe Prehistoric placental genera Eocene mammals of Asia Fossil taxa described in 1849