Hypsiops is an extinct genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of oreodont

Oreodont

Oreodons, sometimes called prehistoric "ruminating hogs," were a family of cud-chewing plant-eater with a short face and tusk-like canine teeth...

 of the superfamily

Taxonomic rank

In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...

 Merycoidodontoidea, family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 Merycoidodontidae endemic to North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

 during the Late Oligocene-Early Miocene

Early Miocene

The Early Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages....

 epochs (24.8—16.3 mya), existing for approximately .

Taxonomy

Hypsiops was named by Schultz and Falkenbach (1950). It was assigned to Merycoidodontidae by Schultz and Falkenbach (1950) and Lander (1998).

Morphology

Two specimens were examined by M. Mendoza for body mass. Specimen one was estimated to have a weight of 168.6 kg (371.6 lbs). Specimen two was estimated to have a weight of 223.0 kg (491.6 lbs).

Fossil distribution

Fossils have been uncovered throughout the western U.S. in Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, as well as Nebraska.

Species

H. bannackensis (syn. Pseudomesoreodon boulderensis, Pseudomesoreodon rolli), H. breviceps (syn. H. johndayensis, Pseudomesoreodon rooneyi, Ticholeptus brachymelis, Ticholeptus petersoni.