Megalohyrax

Megalohyrax is an extinct hyrax-grouped genus of herbivorous mammal that lived during the Oligocene, about 33-30 million years ago. Its fossils have been found in Africa and in Asia Minor.^[1]

Megalohyrax Temporal range: Lower Oligocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Hyracoidea
Family:	†Pliohyracidae
Subfamily:	†Saghatheriinae
Genus:	†Megalohyrax Andrews, 1903
Species:	M. lavocati
Binomial name
Megalohyrax eocaenus Andrews, 1903
Synonyms
Mixohyrax Schlosser, 1910

Description

This animal was very different from the current hyraxes and much larger, generally reaching the size of a tapir^[2][3] and sometimes exceeding 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) in length. The legs were strong and the body very massive. The skull was long and low, unlike that of today's hyraxes, and could reach 391 mm (15.4 in) in length.^[4] Length of upper premolars and molars is 75 mm (3.0 in) and 86 mm (3.4 in), respectively.^[5] The dental formula of Megalohyrax was composed of three incisors, one canine, four premolars and three molars. It likely had an eustachian sac, a pouch-like structure found in some mammals that is connected to the eustachian tube.^[4]

Classification and habitats

It was first described by Andrews in 1903. The type species is Megalohyrax eocaenus, was found in the El Fayum area in Egypt. Other fossils attributed to this kind have been found in Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia.

See also

• Titanohyrax
• Gigantohyrax
• Largest prehistoric animals