Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
545 / Cenozoic
Phenacodus
Phenacodus primaevus
Five-toed feet and generalized teeth record an early radiation of hoofed-mammal relatives.
View original image · 1600 × 1067- Time range
- About 56–50 million years ago
- Final stage
- Early Eocene
- Geographic range
- Warm woodland and river valley · North America
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Phenacodus?
Phenacodus (Phenacodus primaevus) was an extinct organism known from About 56–50 million years ago, with a range in Warm woodland and river valley · North America.
Life and ecology
It walked through forests and ate leaves, fruit and perhaps mixed foods.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Phenacodus disappear?
Perissodactyls and artiodactyls expanded as generalized archaic ungulates declined; this pattern is context, not proof of direct replacement.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Phenacodus?
Many skulls, teeth and skeletons document gait and diet while exact relationships are revised.
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