Miorhynchocyon
| Miorhynchocyon Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Macroscelidea |
| Genus: | †Miorhynchocyon Butler, 1984 |
| Species | |
| |
Miorhynchocyon is an extinct genus of elephant shrew that lived in East Africa during the Miocene epoch.[1]
Etymology
The generic name Miorhynchocyon derives from the name of the extant macroscelidean genus Rhynchocyon. The prefix mio- references the Miocene epoch, during which the animal lived.[2]
Distribution
Miorhynchocyon fossils are known from both Rusinga Island and the site of Ngira, preserving a far more open and drier palaeoenvironment, in Kenya.[3] Fossils are also known from Uganda.[1]
References
- ^ a b "PBDB Taxon". Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ Butler, Percy M. (15 November 1984). "Macroscelidea, Insectivora and Chiroptera from the Miocene of east Africa". PalaeoVertebrata. ISSN 2274-0333. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ Lukens, William E.; Lehmann, Thomas; Peppe, Daniel J.; Fox, David L.; Driese, Steven G.; McNulty, Kieran P. (25 October 2017). "The Early Miocene Critical Zone at Karungu, Western Kenya: An Equatorial, Open Habitat with Few Primate Remains". Frontiers in Earth Science. 5. doi:10.3389/feart.2017.00087. ISSN 2296-6463. Retrieved 27 February 2026 – via Frontiers.