Blastomeryx

Blastomeryx is an extinct genus of musk deer endemic to North America. It lived during the Miocene epoch 20.4—10.3 mya, existing for approximately 10 million years.^[1] There may be only one species, Blastomeryx gemmifer.^[2]

Reconstruction by Robert Bruce Horsfall

Blastomeryx Temporal range: Early to Middle Miocene 20.4–10.3 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Skeletal reconstruction
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Moschidae
Subfamily:	†Blastomerycinae
Genus:	†Blastomeryx Cope, 1877
Species
B. cursor Cook 1934 B. gemmifer Cope 1874 B. vigoratus Hay 1924
Synonyms
B. elegans B. francesca B. medius B. mollis B. pristinus B. tantillus

Description

Blastomeryx was 75 centimetres (30 in) long and looked like a modern chevrotain. Its canines were elongated into tusks which it probably used to uproot plants and fend off predators. While Blastomeryx (as well as modern musk deer) lacked antlers, a Middle Miocene species had bony knobs on its skull, which have been interpreted as incipient horns.^[3] Blastomeryx had a reduced radius and ulna, as well as fully formed cannon bones, like modern deer.^[4]

History

In older literature, Blastomeryx has been placed within Cervidae proper, though this affinity is generally not believed. Edward Drinker Cope and William Diller Matthew were of the belief that Blastomeryx descended from Hypertragulids, assuming the genus was indigenous and not a result of any migration.^[4]