Diadiaphorus

Diadiaphorus Temporal range: Early Miocene
Restoration
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	†Litopterna
Family:	†Proterotheriidae
Genus:	†Diadiaphorus
Species:	†D. caniadensis Kramarz & Bond, 2005
Binomial name
Diadiaphorus caniadensis

Diadiaphorus is an extinct genus of litoptern mammal from the Miocene of South America.

Diadiaphorus closely resembled a horse, but was only around 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) in body length, 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.^[1]

References

1. ^ Palmer, D., ed (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 247. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.