PBDB Taxon

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Leptauchenia decora

Mammalia - Merycoidodontidae

Taxonomy

Leptauchenia decora was named by Leidy (1856) [genotype]. It is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Eagle Nest Butte (Sharps Fm.), which is in an Arikareean fluvial horizon in the Sharps Formation of South Dakota.

Synonyms

Cyclopidius loganensis was named by Koerner (1940). Its type locality is Fort Logan, which is in an Arikareean terrestrial horizon in Montana.

It was synonymized subjectively with Pithecistes brevifacies by Schultz and Falkenbach (1968); it was recombined as Leptauchenia major loganensis by Lander (1998); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by CoBabe (1996) and Prothero and Sanchez (2008).
Cyclopidius (Chelonocephalus) schucherti was named by Thorpe (1921). Its type specimen is YPM 10123, a skull, and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Hermosa, which is in a Hemingfordian terrestrial horizon in South Dakota.

It was recombined as Cyclopidius schucherti by Loomis (1925); it was recombined as Leptauchenia major schucherti by Lander (1998); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by Schultz and Falkenbach (1968), CoBabe (1996) and Prothero and Sanchez (2008).
Hadroleptauchenia eiseleyi was named by Schultz and Falkenbach (1968). Its type specimen is UNSM 28208, a partial skull (Partial left maxilla with P4-M3), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Lyman Beaver Locality, which is in an Orellan terrestrial horizon in the Brule Formation of Nebraska.

It was recombined as Leptauchenia eiselyi by Lander (1998); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by CoBabe (1996) and Prothero and Sanchez (2008).
Hadroleptauchenia primitiva was named by Schultz and Falkenbach (1968). Its type locality is Hay Creek, which is in a Whitneyan terrestrial horizon in the Brule Formation of South Dakota.

It was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia major by CoBabe (1996); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by Lander (1998) and Prothero and Sanchez (2008).
Leptauchenia harveyi was named by Schultz and Falkenbach (1968). Its type locality is UNSM Sx-15 (Whitney A), which is in a Whitneyan terrestrial horizon in the Brule Formation of Nebraska.

It was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by CoBabe (1996), Lander (1998) and Prothero and Sanchez (2008).
Leptauchenia martini was named by Schultz and Falkenbach (1968). Its type locality is Potato Creek (Sharps A), which is in a Geringian fluvial horizon in the Sharps Formation of South Dakota.

It was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia major by Lander (1998); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by CoBabe (1996) and Prothero and Sanchez (2008).
Leptauchenia minora was named by Schlaikjer (1935). Its type specimen is MCZ 2841, a partial skull, and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Bear Creek Mountain (East), which is in an Arikareean terrestrial horizon in the Harrison Formation of Wyoming.

It was synonymized subjectively with Sespia nitida by Schultz and Falkenbach (1968), CoBabe (1996) and Lander (1998); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by Prothero and Sanchez (2008).
Leptauchenia parasimus was named by Schultz and Falkenbach (1968).

It was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia major by Lander (1998); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by CoBabe (1996) and Prothero and Sanchez (2008).
Pithecistes altageringensis was named by Schultz and Falkenbach (1968). Its type locality is Little Muddy Creek (Niobrara County), which is in an Arikareean terrestrial horizon in Wyoming.

It was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia major by Lander (1998); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by CoBabe (1996) and Prothero and Sanchez (2008).
Pithecistes breviceps was named by Loomis (1925) [lapsus].

It was synonymized subjectively with Pithecistes brevifacies by Schultz and Falkenbach (1968); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by CoBabe (1996).
Pithecistes brevifacies was named by Cope (1877) [type locality not indicated]. It is a 3D body fossil.

It was synonymized subjectively with Cyclopidius simus by Matthew (1899), Thorpe (1921), Loomis (1925), Thorpe (1937) and Koerner (1940); it was recombined as Cyclopidius brevifacies by Hay (1902) and Schlaikjer (1935); it was recombined as Leptauchenia brevifacies by Lander (1998); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by CoBabe (1996) and Prothero and Sanchez (2008).
Pithecistes copei was named by Schultz and Falkenbach (1968).

It was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia major by Lander (1998); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by CoBabe (1996) and Prothero and Sanchez (2008).
Pithecistes decedens was named by Cope (1884).

It was recombined as Cyclopidius decedens by Matthew (1899) and Hay (1902); it was synonymized subjectively with Cyclopidius simus by Loomis (1925), Thorpe (1937), Koerner (1940) and Schultz and Falkenbach (1968); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia brevifacies by Lander (1998); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by CoBabe (1996) and Prothero and Sanchez (2008).
Pithecistes facies was named by Cope (1888) [lapsus].

It was synonymized subjectively with Cyclopidius simus by Koerner (1940); it was synonymized subjectively with Pithecistes brevifacies by Schultz and Falkenbach (1968); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by CoBabe (1996).
Pithecistes mariae was named by Schultz and Falkenbach (1968). Its type locality is Sheep Mountain (Sharps A), which is in a Geringian terrestrial horizon in the Sharps Formation of South Dakota.

It was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia schucherti by Lander (1998); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by CoBabe (1996) and Prothero and Sanchez (2008).
Pithecistes tanneri was named by Schultz and Falkenbach (1968).

It was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by CoBabe (1996), Lander (1998) and Prothero and Sanchez (2008).
Pseudocyclopidius orellaensis was named by Schultz and Falkenbach (1968). Its type locality is Douglas Area Brule (5-6a), which is in an Orellan terrestrial horizon in the Brule Formation of Wyoming.

It was recombined as Leptauchenia orellaensis by Lander (1998); it was synonymized subjectively with Leptauchenia decora by CoBabe (1996) and Prothero and Sanchez (2008).

Synonymy list

Year	Name and author
1856	Leptauchenia decora Leidy p. 88
1857	Leptauchenia decora Leidy p. 89
1877	Pithecistes brevifacies Cope p. 219
1884	Leptauchenia decora Cope p. 546
1884	Pithecistes brevifacies Cope p. 558
1884	Pithecistes decedens Cope p. 558
1888	Pithecistes facies Cope
1899	Cyclopidius decedens Matthew
1902	Cyclopidius brevifacies Hay p. 670
1902	Cyclopidius decedens Hay p. 670
1902	Leptauchenia decora Hay p. 670
1921	Cyclopidius (Chelonocephalus) schucherti Thorpe
1925	Pithecistes breviceps Loomis
1925	Cyclopidius schucherti Loomis p. 248
1935	Cyclopidius brevifacies Schlaikjer
1935	Leptauchenia minora Schlaikjer p. 164
1937	Leptauchenia decora Thorpe p. 235 figs. Fig. 6; PI. XXXV; PI. XLVIII, fig. 2
1937	Leptauchenia minora Thorpe p. 239 figs. PL XXXVI, fig. 4
1937	Cyclopidius (Chelonocephalus) schucherti Thorpe p. 256 figs. Figs. 183-185
1940	Cyclopidius loganensis Koerner
1940	Leptauchenia decora Scott p. 703
1968	Hadroleptauchenia eiseleyi Schultz and Falkenbach
1968	Hadroleptauchenia primitiva Schultz and Falkenbach
1968	Leptauchenia harveyi Schultz and Falkenbach
1968	Leptauchenia martini Schultz and Falkenbach
1968	Leptauchenia parasimus Schultz and Falkenbach
1968	Pithecistes altageringensis Schultz and Falkenbach
1968	Pithecistes copei Schultz and Falkenbach
1968	Pithecistes mariae Schultz and Falkenbach
1968	Pithecistes tanneri Schultz and Falkenbach
1968	Pseudocyclopidius orellaensis Schultz and Falkenbach
1968	Pithecistes brevifacies Schultz and Falkenbach p. 268 figs. Figures 32, 40
1968	Leptauchenia decora Schultz and Falkenbach p. 277 figs. Figures 33, 38, 40, 41, 43, 53
1968	Hadroleptauchenia eiseleyi Schultz and Falkenbach p. 306 figs. igures 35 and 38
1998	Leptauchenia brevifacies Lander
1998	Leptauchenia eiselyi Lander
1998	Leptauchenia major loganensis Lander
1998	Leptauchenia major schucherti Lander
1998	Leptauchenia orellaensis Lander
2007	Leptauchenia decora Stevens and Stevens p. 158
2008	Leptauchenia decora Prothero and Sanchez

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Rank	Name	Author
kingdom	Animalia	()
—	Bilateria
—	Eubilateria	Ax 1987
—	Deuterostomia
phylum	Chordata	Haeckel 1874
subphylum	Vertebrata
superclass	Gnathostomata
—	Osteichthyes	()
subclass	Sarcopterygii	()
subclass	Dipnotetrapodomorpha	(Nelson 2006)
subclass	Tetrapodomorpha	()
—	Tetrapoda
—	Reptiliomorpha
—	Anthracosauria
subclass	Amphibiosauria	Kuhn 1967
—	Cotylosauria	()
—	Amniota
subclass	Synapsida
—	Therapsida	()
infraorder	Cynodontia	()
—	Mammaliamorpha

Rank	Name	Author
—	Mammaliaformes
class	Mammalia
—	Theriamorpha	(Rowe 1993)
—	Theriiformes	()
—	Trechnotheria
—	Cladotheria
—	Zatheria
subclass	Tribosphenida	()
subclass	Theria
—	Eutheria	()
—	Placentalia
—	Boreoeutheria
—	Laurasiatheria
—	Scrotifera
—	Euungulata
—	Artiodactylamorpha
—	Artiodactyla	()
family	Merycoidodontidae
subfamily	Leptaucheniinae	Schultz and Falkenbach 1940
genus	Leptauchenia
species	decora

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.

†Leptauchenia decora Leidy 1856

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Invalid names: Cyclopidius (Chelonocephalus) schucherti Thorpe 1921 [synonym], Cyclopidius loganensis Koerner 1940 [synonym], Hadroleptauchenia eiseleyi Schultz and Falkenbach 1968 [synonym], Hadroleptauchenia primitiva Schultz and Falkenbach 1968 [synonym], Leptauchenia harveyi Schultz and Falkenbach 1968 [synonym], Leptauchenia martini Schultz and Falkenbach 1968 [synonym], Leptauchenia minora Schlaikjer 1935 [synonym], Leptauchenia parasimus Schultz and Falkenbach 1968 [synonym], Pithecistes altageringensis Schultz and Falkenbach 1968 [synonym], Pithecistes breviceps Loomis 1925 [synonym], Pithecistes brevifacies Cope 1877 [synonym], Pithecistes copei Schultz and Falkenbach 1968 [synonym], Pithecistes decedens Cope 1884 [synonym], Pithecistes facies Cope 1888 [synonym], Pithecistes mariae Schultz and Falkenbach 1968 [synonym], Pithecistes tanneri Schultz and Falkenbach 1968 [synonym], Pseudocyclopidius orellaensis Schultz and Falkenbach 1968 [synonym]

Diagnosis

Reference	Diagnosis
D. R. Prothero and F. Sanchez 2008	Relatively small leptaucheniines (P2-M3 length = 30- 50 mm; M1-2 length = 14-22 mm; M1-3 length = 21-34 mm; skull length = 80-105 mm) with less robust zygomatic arches and smaller orbits; teeth subhypsodont to hypsodont; styles on M1-3 and stylids on m1-3 well developed.

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: Lander 1998, Lillegraven 1979, Nowak 1999, Carroll 1988, Hendy et al. 2009

Age range: base of the Orellan to the top of the Harrisonian or 33.90000 to 18.50000 Ma

Collections (90 total)

Time interval	Ma	Country or state	Original ID and collection number
Orellan	33.9 - 33.3	USA (Nebraska)	Hadroleptauchenia eiseleyi (17135) Leptauchenia decora (17096) Pseudocyclopidius orellaensis (17206)
Orellan	33.9 - 33.3	USA (Wyoming)	Pseudocyclopidius orellaensis (17104)
Orellan	33.9 - 33.3	USA (South Dakota)	Hadroleptauchenia eiseleyi (17169)
Whitneyan	33.3 - 30.8	USA (Wyoming)	Leptauchenia decora (17335)
Whitneyan	33.3 - 30.8	USA (Nebraska)	Hadroleptauchenia primitiva, Leptauchenia decora (17374) Hadroleptauchenia primitiva, Leptauchenia decora, Pithecistes tanneri (17419) Hadroleptauchenia primitiva, Pithecistes tanneri (17398) Leptauchenia decora (17311 17333 17354 17373 17375 17386 17392 17394 17397 17399 17401 17402 17411 17413 17415 17417 17422 17424) Leptauchenia harveyi (17409 17410 17416 17418) Pithecistes mariae (17319) Pithecistes tanneri (17395 17403 17404 17430)
Whitneyan	33.3 - 30.8	USA (Colorado)	Leptauchenia decora (17426)
Whitneyan	33.3 - 30.8	USA (North Dakota)	Leptauchenia decora (17432)
Whitneyan	33.3 - 30.8	USA (South Dakota)	Leptauchenia decora (17317 17336 17337 17338 17339 17343 17360 17380)
Geringian	30.8 - 26.3	USA (South Dakota)	Cyclopidius schucherti (17624 17630 17641 17647) Leptauchenia martini (17501 17589 17592 17665 17693) Pithecistes copei (17505) Pithecistes mariae (17663)
Geringian	30.8 - 26.3	USA (Wyoming)	Pithecistes altageringensis (17446)
Geringian	30.8 - 26.3	USA (Nebraska)	Leptauchenia martini (17488 17575 17595 17697) Leptauchenia parasimus (17728) Pithecistes mariae (17687)
Arikareean	29.5 - 18.5	USA (Montana)	Cyclopidius loganensis (17509)
Arikareean	29.5 - 18.5	USA (Wyoming)	Leptauchenia decora, Leptauchenia parasimus, Pithecistes altageringensis (17667) Leptauchenia minora (17466) Leptauchenia parasimus (17502 17571) Leptauchenia parasimus, Pithecistes altageringensis (17703) Pithecistes altageringensis (17532) Pithecistes copei (17472)
Arikareean	29.5 - 18.5	USA (Nebraska)	Leptauchenia decora (17510 17531 17538 17580 17594) Leptauchenia martini (17572 17573 17717) Leptauchenia parasimus (17503 17604 17718) Pithecistes mariae (17598)
Arikareean	29.5 - 18.5	USA (South Dakota)	Leptauchenia decora (type locality: 17496) Leptauchenia martini (17483) Leptauchenia parasimus (17578)
Monroecreekian	26.3 - 24.8	USA (South Dakota)	Pithecistes altageringensis (17547)
Harrisonian	24.8 - 18.5	USA (Nebraska)	Pithecistes copei (17704)
Hemingfordian	20.43 - 15.97	USA (South Dakota)	Cyclopidius schucherti (17951)