. The age of mammals in Europe, Asia and North America. Mammals, Fossil; Paleontology. THE MIOCENE OF EUROPE, ASIA, AND NORTH AMERICA 247 In the coastal rivers there swarmed at this time sirenians (Metaxytherium), also originally from Africa. From Asia there appeared the first of the antelopes {Prutragocerus). From Asia or from eastern Europe there ap- peared two entirely new phyla of rhinoceroses hitherto unrepresented in western Europe and unknown, namely, the excessively bulky and short- limhed teleocerine and the slender-limbed dicerorhine forms, the former destined to flourish and die out
. The age of mammals in Europe, Asia and North America. Mammals, Fossil; Paleontology. THE MIOCENE OF EUROPE, ASIA, AND NORTH AMERICA 247 In the coastal rivers there swarmed at this time sirenians (Metaxytherium), also originally from Africa. From Asia there appeared the first of the antelopes {Prutragocerus). From Asia or from eastern Europe there ap- peared two entirely new phyla of rhinoceroses hitherto unrepresented in western Europe and unknown, namely, the excessively bulky and short- limhed teleocerine and the slender-limbed dicerorhine forms, the former destined to flourish and die out in Europe during the Miocene period, the latter destined to survive in the existing and rather primitive two-horned rhinoceros {Dicerorkinus) of Sumatra. In this phylum, to which we shall make frequent reference, the grinders are short, the horns are small and placed in tandem on the frontals and nasals. Probably from Asia also, there entered Europe the first of the higher primates, or anthropoid apes (Pliopitheciis). From Asia also entered the first horned cervuline deer, or muntjacs. Of this Lower Miocene invading fauna the mastodons and teleocerine rhinoceroses alone reached North America. Distinctive also is the reappearance in Europe of horses in the Anchitherium stage either of north Asiatic or of North American origin. The most characteristic of the larger forms of hoofed mammals which by the Middle Miocene become common to the New and Old Worlds are the following: Primitive mastodons with four large tusks (new). Chalicotheres, forest-living. Teleocerine, or short-footed rhinoceroses, single-horned (new). Aceratheres, large, hornless, tetradactyl rhinoceroses. Tapirs. Anchitheres. Mingled with the new and strange invaders, some of the descendants of the great groups of Oligocene mammals continue their evolution both in Europe and North America, but certain of the most characteristic Oligocene types have passed their flourishing period and are in their last stages. These
Size: 1921px × 1301px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectpaleontology, bookyea
