Brachyodus


Brachyodus was a genus of anthracothere that lived in Europe during the Early Miocene.

Taxonomy

The type and only species of this genus is B. onoideus. The nominal species "Brachyodus" strategus has been reassigned to Paenanthracotherium based on similarities with P. bergeri. Likewise, the putative Asian species "B." japonicus was referred to Elomeryx by Tsubamoto and Kohno.

Distribution

Fossils of Brachyodus are known from latest early Miocene deposits in Europe. It has also been reported from the late Burdigalian fossil site of Tagay, located on Olkhon Island in Lake Baikal.

Palaeobiology

Palaeoecology

The microanatomy of its long bones suggests B. onoideus was mostly terrestrial but that it did possess some semi-aquatic adaptations reflecting a slight degree of water dependence.