Aletomeryx is an extinct genus of Artiodactyla, of the family Dromomerycidae, endemic to North America from the early Miocene epoch (Hemingfordian stage) 20.6—16.3 Ma, existing for approximately 4.3 million years.[1]

Aletomeryx
Temporal range: 20.6–16.3 Ma
A. gracilis skull
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Dromomerycidae
Tribe: Aletomerycini
Genus: Aletomeryx
Lull (1920)
Species
  • A. gracilis
  • A. marslandensis
  • A. occidentalis

Taxonomy

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Female skull, originally described as Blastomeryx marshi (now a synonym of Aletomeryx gracilis).
 
19th century model

Aletomeryx was named by Lull (1920). It is the type genus of Aletomerycinae, Aletomerycini. It was assigned to Dromomerycidae by Lull (1920) and Janis and Manning (1998); and to Aletomerycini by Prothero and Liter (2007).[2][3][4]

Fossil distribution

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Fossils have been recovered from the Midway Site in Florida, Saskatchewan, Boron, California, and several sites in Nebraska and Wyoming.

References

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  1. ^ PaleoBiology Database: Aletomeryx, basic info
  2. ^ R. S. Lull. 1920. American Journal of Science 200
  3. ^ C. M. Janis and E. Manning. 1998. Dromomerycidae. In C. M. Janis, K. M. Scott, and L. L. Jacobs (eds.), Evolution of Tertiary mammals of North America 477-490
  4. ^ D. R. Prothero and M. R. Liter. 2007. Family Palaeomerycidae. in D. R. Prothero and S. Foss (eds.), The Evolution of Artiodactyls 241-248