The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 10 (of 10)Beddard, Frank E. (Frank Evers)
Science
The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 10 (of 10)
Beddard, Frank E. (Frank Evers)
Animals; Mammals
_Oreodon_ is a Miocene form about as large as a Peccary. The skull has a
short face with a completely-closed orbital cavity. In front of the orbit
is a deep pit, not a mere deficiency of ossification, such as occurs in
many Artiodactyles. This is placed on the lachrymal bone, and is in fact a
lachrymal fossa, such as occurs in other forms. The odontoid process of the
axis vertebra is somewhat cheese-taster shaped, as in recent Artiodactyles.
There are fourteen dorsal vertebrae and a very large number of caudals. The
radius and the ulna are completely separated, as are the carpals. There are
five digits to the fore-limbs. The fibula is complete and independent. The
hind-foot is four-toed. Several species of the genus are known.
_Merycochoerus_ is an allied Miocene genus. It is more massive in form than
the last, but otherwise does not present differences of importance.
_Mesoreodon_ is another genus of this family which presents some curious
features of organisation. In the skull and teeth there is nothing very
noteworthy, but the hyoid is remarkable. This appendage of the skull is by
no means always preserved, and when it is, it might be denied that it
belonged to any particular skull. In the present case there appears to be
no doubt as to the identity of the bones, which resemble the corresponding
bones of the Perissodactyla much more than they do those of other
Artiodactyles. Associated with the bones an ossified {331} thyroid
cartilage of the larynx was found. As the skull was that of a male, this
character may be a sexual one. It is quite comparable to the ossification
of the same cartilage in the American monkey _Callithrix_. "The function of
the bone," observes Professor Scott,[220] "was probably similar to that
performed by the enormously-inflated basihyal of the howling monkeys, and
must have given to these animals most unusual powers of voice." Another
important anatomical fact about _Mesoreodon_ is the apparent existence of a
clavicle. It is of course conceivable that the remains of some other animal
have got mixed up with that of the individuals upon which the present genus
is founded; but failing that, here is a clavicle in an Ungulate. The spine
of the scapula possesses a metacromion. This greater development of the
spine of the scapula in Artiodactyles than in Perissodactyles is, it is
suggested, to be correlated with the earlier loss of the clavicle in the
latter group of Ungulates.
_Cyclopidius_ (synonymous with _Brachymeryx_) is a kind of pug form of
_Oreodon_. The skull is short and broad, and the end of the snout a little
turned up. The upper incisors are small and drop out early. On each side of
the nasals is a large oval vacuity which is perhaps to be compared to the
lateral deficiency to be found in other Artiodactyles. One species of this
singular-looking form is appropriately called _C. simus_.
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