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Phenacocoelus

Mammalia - Merycoidodontidae

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1907Phenacocoelus Peterson
1937Phenacocoelus Thorpe p. 179 figs. Figs. 129-131
1950Phenacocoelus Schultz and Falkenbach p. 101 figs. 1 - 3, 11, 13, 15
1980Phenacocoelus MacFadden p. 93
1998Phenacocoelus Lander
2007Phenacocoelus Stevens and Stevens p. 163
2023Phenacocoelus Stevens et al. p. 96

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
subclassSynapsida
Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
Mammaliamorpha
RankNameAuthor
Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
Theriamorpha(Rowe 1993)
Theriiformes()
Trechnotheria
Cladotheria
Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
Eutheria()
Placentalia
Boreoeutheria
Laurasiatheria
Scrotifera
Euungulata
Artiodactylamorpha
Artiodactyla()
familyMerycoidodontidae
subfamilyTicholeptinae
genusPhenacocoelus

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

G. †Phenacocoelus Peterson 1907
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Phenacocoelus kayi Schultz and Falkenbach 1950
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Invalid names: Hypsiops luskensis Schultz and Falkenbach 1950 [synonym]
Phenacocoelus typus Peterson 1907
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Invalid names: Phenacocoelus munroensis Peterson 1928 [synonym]
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
C. B. Schultz and C. H. Falkenbach 1950SKULL: Small to medium size, basal lengths ranging from 155 to 250 mm., widths from 90 to 169 mm.; mesocephalic; low to moderately high; supraoccipital wings widely spread, protruding posteriorly, deeply notched on sides [not fan shaped as in Brachycrus, Ustatotochoerus, or Merychyus (Metoreodon), but more widely spread and with less posterior projection than in Promerycochoerus; deep pit on each side of medial line in exoccipital above base of paroc- cipi tal process; sagittal crest low; brain case inflated, rounded laterally, and slightly elongated anteroposteriorly; frontals moderately wide, flat to convex laterally; supra-orbital foramina vary in form (see discussion following); orbit roundish to oblong in outline, looking outward and upward; zygomatic arch moderately light (seespecificvariation); malar moderately shallow below the orbit; lacrimal fossa large and deep, with a shelf- like area below and extending anteriorly (see discussion, p. 104); muzzleslightly inflated; premaxillae joined for short distance, more so in large species; occipital condyle of moderate size; paroccipital process moderately wide at base, tapering rapidly to inferior border; bulla inflated, elongated anteroposteriorly, with flattened surface sloping from high external border to low internal border (adjacent to basioccipital region), similar to examples of Merychyus (Metoreodon); post-glenoid process from moderately light to robust; posterior palate projects for short distance posterior to M3.
MANDIBLE: Small to medium size; moderately robust (in comparison with examples of Ticholeptus and Merychyus); postsyrnphysis in area below anterior portion of Pa; inferior border of ramus increasing gradually in depth from symphysis to a point below Ma,with a marked downward and inward curve just posterior to Ma;ascending ramus moderately high; condyle set at approximate right angle to dental series, with an internal downward slope.
DENTITION: Brachyodont (slightly more brachyodont than in Hypsi,ops); external styles of superior molars moderately prominent; superior molars have a squarish appearance from crown views; premolars slightly crowded; PLP 8 with anterior intermediate crest; C/ and P1moderately large to large.
LIMBS: Moderately robust, more so than in Hypsiops and Merychyus but less than in
Submerycochoerusand Merycochoerus.
M. S. Stevens et al. 2023Small oreodonts with anteroposteriorly elongated premolars that are highly molarized, yet low crowned compared to other oreodonts, plus the distinctive ticholeptine facial vacuity, and the infraorbital foramen over the P3-P4, and robust glenoid processes.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: terrestrialo
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: ground dwellingf
Diet: herbivoref
Reproduction: viviparoussubc
Created: 2005-08-31 14:37:21
Modified: 2005-08-31 16:37:21
Source: f = family, o = order, subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Carroll 1988, Hendy et al. 2009, Nowak 1999, Lillegraven 1979, Lander 1998

Age range: base of the Monroecreekian to the top of the Harrisonian or 26.30000 to 18.50000 Ma

Collections (6 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Monroecreekian26.3 - 24.8USA (Nebraska) P. typus (17565)
Harrisonian24.8 - 18.5USA (Nebraska) P. sp. (17819)
Harrisonian24.8 - 18.5USA (Florida) P. luskensis (18558)
Harrisonian24.8 - 18.5USA (Wyoming) Hypsiops luskensis (17780) P. kayi (17840) P. typus (17794)