Leptomerycinae is an extinct subfamily within the ruminant family Leptomerycidae. It contains three genera, Leptomeryx, Pronodens, and Pseudoparablastomeryx, which lived in North America during the Middle Eocene to Middle Miocene. Leptomeryx may also have occurred in Asia during the Early Oligocene.[1] Leptomerycines were primitive and ancient ruminants, resembling small deer or musk deer, although they were more closely related to modern chevrotains.

Leptomerycinae
Temporal range: Middle Eocene–Middle Miocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Leptomerycidae
Subfamily: Leptomerycinae
Zittel, 1893
Genera
Range of Leptomerycinae based on fossil record

References edit

  1. ^ McKenna, M. C.; Bell, S. K. (1997). Classification of Mammals: Above the Species Level. Columbia University Press. p. 631. ISBN 978-0-231-11013-6.