Hyrachyus

Hyrachyus (from Hyrax and Ancient Greek: ὗς "pig") is an extinct genus of perissodactyl mammal that lived in Eocene Europe,^[1] North America, and Asia. Its remains have also been found in Jamaica.^[2] It is closely related to Lophiodon.^[3]

Hyrachyus Temporal range: Eocene
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Perissodactyla
Superfamily:	Rhinocerotoidea
Family:	†Hyrachyidae
Genus:	†Hyrachyus Leidy, 1871
Species
H. affinis H. bicornutus H. douglassi H. eximius H. modestus H. minimus ?H. stehlini

Description

Spanning 1.5 meters in length, Hyrachyus was related to palaeotheres. Physically, it would have looked very similar to modern tapirs, although it probably lacked the tapir's characteristic proboscis. Its teeth, however, resembled those of a rhinoceros, supporting the idea of its relationship with that group.^[1] It is proposed by some that Hyrachyus (or a hyrachyid of similar form) served as a common ancestor for North American rhinoceratoids.^[4]

Restoration of H. eximius

Skeleton of Hyrachyus