Ticholeptus 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...

 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 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....

-Middle Miocene

Middle Miocene

The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene....

 epochs (20.6—13.6 mya), existing for approximately .

Taxonomy

Ticholeptus was named by Cope (1878). Its type is Ticholeptus zygomaticus. It was synonymized subjectively with Merychyus

Merychyus

Merychyus is an extinct genus of terrestrial herbivore of the family Merycoidodontidae , endemic to North America during the Oligocene-Pliocene subepochs existing for approximately ....

by Cope (1884), Scott (1890) and Scott (1893). It was assigned to Merycoidodontidae by Cope (1878), Thorpe (1937), Schultz and Falkenbach (1941), Kelly and Lander (1988) and Lander (1998)...

Morphology

Two specimens were examined by M. Mendoza for body mass. Specimen one was estimated to have a weight of 116 kg (255.7 lbs). Specimen two was estimated to have a weight of 154.9 kg (341.4 lbs).

Fossil distribution

Fossils have been uncovered throughout the U.S. from Gadsden County, Florida

Gadsden County, Florida

Gadsden County is a county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2000 census, the population was 45,087. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 46,428 . Its county seat is Quincy, Florida. Gadsden County is the only predominantly African-American...

 to Jefferson County, Oregon

Jefferson County, Oregon

Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. In 2010, its population was 21,720. It is named after Mount Jefferson. The seat of the county is Madras.-History:...

as well as Ventura, California, numerous sites in Nebraska, Nevada, and Montana.

Species

T. zygomaticus (syn. Merycochoerus obliquidens, Poatrephes paludicola, T. hypsodus, T. rileyi, Ustatochoerus schrammi).