Merycondontinae is a

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...

of pronghorn that arose during the middle of the

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first epoch (geology), geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and mea ...

and became extinct by the end of that period. Merycodus osborni

The Merycondontinae were small, slightly built, fast-running

ungulate Ungulates ( ) are members of the diverse clade Euungulata ("true ungulates"), which primarily consists of large mammals with Hoof, hooves. Once part of the clade "Ungulata" along with the clade Paenungulata, "Ungulata" has since been determined ...

s. Both males and females were horned. The genera ''Meryceros'' and ''Submeryceros'' are generally regarded as synonymous with '' Merycodus''.

References

*Byers, John A.; American Pronghorn: Social Adaptations & the Ghosts of Predators Past; University of Chicago Press; 1998 Prehistoric pronghorns {{paleo-eventoedungulate-stub