Diadiaphorus
Encyclopedia
Diadiaphorus is an extinct genus of litoptern
mammal from the Miocene
of South America.
Diadiaphorus closely resembled a horse
, but was only around 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) in body length, similar to a modern sheep. It had three toes, only one of which touched the ground. This toe had a large hoof
; the two outer toes were rudimentary, much like those of early horses such as Merychippus
. Unlike horses, however, Diadiaphorus lacked fused limb bones. Its skull
was short and had a relatively large brain cavity. Judging from its low molars
, Diadiaphorus ate soft vegetation, such as leaves.
Litopterna
Litopterna is an extinct order of fossil hoofed mammals from the Tertiary period that displays toe reduction. Three-toed, and even a one-toed horselike form developed....
mammal from the Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
of South America.
Diadiaphorus closely resembled a horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
, but was only around 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) in body length, similar to a modern sheep. It had three toes, only one of which touched the ground. This toe had a large hoof
Claw
A claw is a curved, pointed appendage, found at the end of a toe or finger in most mammals, birds, and some reptiles. However, the word "claw" is also often used in reference to an invertebrate. Somewhat similar fine hooked structures are found in arthropods such as beetles and spiders, at the end...
; the two outer toes were rudimentary, much like those of early horses such as Merychippus
Merychippus
Merychippus is an extinct proto-horse of the family Equidae that was endemic to North America during the Miocene from 20.43—10.3 Ma living for approximately .It had three toes on each foot and is the first horse known to have grazed...
. Unlike horses, however, Diadiaphorus lacked fused limb bones. Its skull
Skull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
was short and had a relatively large brain cavity. Judging from its low molars
Molar (tooth)
Molars are the rearmost and most complicated kind of tooth in most mammals. In many mammals they grind food; hence the Latin name mola, "millstone"....
, Diadiaphorus ate soft vegetation, such as leaves.