Colodon
Extinct genus of mammals
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Colodon is an extinct genus of herbivorous mammals that were related to tapirs of today.[2]
| Colodon | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Perissodactyla |
| Family: | †Helaletidae |
| Genus: | †Colodon Marsh, 1890 |
| Type species | |
| †Colodon occidentalis Leidy, 1868 | |
| Species[1] | |
| |
Taxonomy
Description
Colodon had small or absent canines and short, broad cheek teeth. The skull had a greatly enlarged narial incision and greatly reduced nasals. Similarities between the skulls of Colodon and true tapirs suggest it may have had a very small trunk as well.[3]
Colodon first appeared in the Late Eocene and lasted until the Whitneyan.
