Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
297 / Cenozoic
Synthetoceras
Synthetoceras tricornatus
A forked Y-shaped nasal horn joined two brow horns in the most elaborate protoceratid display.
View original image · 1536 × 1024- Time range
- About 10–5 million years ago
- Final stage
- Late Miocene
- Geographic range
- Open grassland and woodland · North America
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Synthetoceras?
Synthetoceras (Synthetoceras tricornatus) was an extinct organism known from About 10–5 million years ago, with a range in Open grassland and woodland · North America.
Life and ecology
Synthetoceras was a slender herbivorous artiodactyl. Large male horns were probably used for display and competition.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Synthetoceras disappear?
Late Miocene changes in grasslands and ungulate faunas are the likely setting for the end of protoceratids; a specific cause is not established.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Synthetoceras?
Skulls and skeletons show sexual differences in horns, teeth and running limbs.
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