Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
549 / Cenozoic
Hyrachyus
Hyrachyus modestus
A small hornless body combined traits near the early split of rhinos and tapirs.
View original image · 1600 × 1067- Time range
- About 50–45 million years ago
- Final stage
- Middle Eocene
- Geographic range
- Warm forest and lakeshore · North America
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Hyrachyus?
Hyrachyus (Hyrachyus modestus) was an extinct organism known from About 50–45 million years ago, with a range in Warm forest and lakeshore · North America.
Life and ecology
It browsed leaves and fruit and crossed soft ground on multiple toes.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Hyrachyus disappear?
Rhinoceroses and tapirs later became more specialized, but a younger fauna does not by itself show that they replaced this generalized form.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Hyrachyus?
Skeletons, skulls and teeth support its perissodactyl position; nasal soft tissue remains uncertain.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Rewrote an extinction cause that presented environmental or faunal turnover as established; it is now given as context the record does not prove.
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS