Diadiaphorus. Illustration and photo-reconstruction of a Diadiaphorus running across a plain having sensed danger. Diadiaphorus is an extinct genus of
Diadiaphorus. Illustration and photo-reconstruction of a Diadiaphorus running across a plain having sensed danger. Diadiaphorus is an extinct genus of litoptern mammal from the Miocene of South America. It closely resembled a horse, but was only around metres in body length with a weight of 70 kilograms, similar to a modern sheep. It had three toes, only one of which touched the ground. This toe had a large hoof; the two outer toes were rudimentary, much like those of early horses such as Merychippus. Unlike horses, however, Diadiaphorus lacked fused limb bones. Its skull was short and had a relatively large brain cavity. Judging from its low molars, Diadiaphorus ate soft vegetation, such as leaves.
Size: 6496px × 4329px
Photo credit: © ROMAN UCHYTEL/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: american, animal, artwork, composite, diadiaphorus, extinct, fauna, herbivore, herbivorous, illustration, litoptern, mammal, miocene, palaeontological, palaeontology, palaeozoological, palaeozoology, paleontological, paleontology, paleozoological, paleozoology, prehistoric, prehistory, south, ungulates, wildlife
