Miotapirus harrisonensis is an extinct species of tapir lived during the early Miocene Epoch some 20 million years ago in North America.

Miotapirus
Temporal range: Early Miocene
Life reconstruction
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Tapiridae
Genus: Miotapirus
Schlaikjer, 1937
Species:
M. harrisonensis
Binomial name
Miotapirus harrisonensis
Schlaikjer, 1937
M. harrisonensis skull.

Physically Miotapirus was virtually identical to its modern relatives; with a length of 2 m (6 ft 8 in) it was even the same size. Most likely it was also nocturnal and very adaptable.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 261. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.