Procranioceras
| Procranioceras Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
| Procranioceras skinneri skull cast at the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | †Dromomerycidae |
| Tribe: | †Cranioceratini |
| Genus: | †Procranioceras Frick, 1937 |
| Species | |
|
P. skinneri Frick, 1937 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Cranioceras skinneri (Matthew, 1918) | |
Procranioceras is an extinct genus of artiodactyl belonging to the family Dromomerycidae, which was endemic to North America. It lived during the Middle Miocene, 16.0—13.6 Ma, existing for approximately 2.4 million years.[1] Fossils have been found from Florida, Saskatchewan, and Nebraska.
Palaeoecology
Analysis of its skull and tooth morphology paired with examination of its dental microwear and mesowear patterns suggests that Procranioceras skinneri was a browsing herbivore.[2]
References
- ^ Procranioceras at fossilworks
- ^ Semprebon, Gina; Janis, Christine; Solounias, Nikos (11 June 2004). "The diets of the Dromomerycidae (Mammalia: Artiodactyla) and their response to Miocene vegetational change". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 24 (2): 427–444. doi:10.1671/2431. ISSN 0272-4634. Retrieved 24 August 2025 – via Taylor and Francis Online.