Miotapirus

Miotapirus
Temporal range: Early Miocene
Skull diagram
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Tapiridae
Genus:
Schlaikjer, 1937
Species:
M. harrisonensis
Binomial name
Miotapirus harrisonensis
Schlaikjer, 1937

Miotapirus harrisonensis is an extinct species of tapir lived during the early Miocene Epoch some 20 million years ago in North America.

Physically, Miotapirus was virtually identical to its modern relatives; with a length of 2 m (6 ft 8 in) it was approximately the same size as well. Most likely it was also nocturnal and very adaptable.[1]

References

  1. ^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 261. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.