Moeritherium

Moeritherium

▪ fossil mammal
 extinct genus of primitive mammals (mammal) that represent a very early stage in the evolution of elephants (elephant). Its fossils are found in deposits dated to the Eocene Epoch (55.8–33.9 million years ago) and the early part of the Oligocene Epoch (33.9–23 million years ago) in northern Africa. Moeritherium did not resemble living elephants. It was about as large as a tapir. It had short, strong legs, a relatively long body, and a short tail. The feet of Moeritherium were broad and terminated in flat-hoofed toes. The skull and cheekbone were long, and the eyes were set very far forward. The nasal openings were located on the upper side of the skull, but it is unlikely that an elephantine trunk was present; at most, Moeritherium had a short, flexible proboscis much like that of tapirs. The front incisors were strongly developed in upper and lower jaws, and they represent a stage in the development of the familiar elephant tusks. Strong neck muscles were attached to the broad back end of the skull. Moeritherium inhabited marshy regions and was at least partly aquatic, feeding on vegetation.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Moeritherium — Moeritherium, Darstellung von Heinrich Harder (1912) Zeitraum Eozän (Priabonium) 37 bis 35 Mio. Jahre Fundorte …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Moeritherium — Temporal range: Late Eocene Skull of Moeritherium lyonsi in the Muséum National d Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France Scienti …   Wikipedia

  • Moeritherium — Moeritherium …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Moeritherium —   [mø ; neulateinisch »Tier vom Mörissee« (nach der Fundstelle im Becken von Faijum)], ausgestorbene, nur aus dem Eozän und Oligozän West und Nordostafrikas bekannte Gattung schweine bis tapirgroßer Säugetiere, die aufgrund ihrer Merkmale (z. B.… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Moeritherium — Moeritherium …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Moeritherium —   Moeritherium Rango temporal: Eoceno …   Wikipedia Español

  • Moeritherium — Moe|ri|the|ri|um [mø...] das; s, ...ien [...i̯ən] <aus gleichbed. nlat. moeritherium, eigtl. »Tier vom Moerissee« (nach der Fundstelle im Becken von Faijum in Ägypten)> ausgestorbene, nur aus dem ↑Eozän u. ↑Oligozän West u. Nordostafrikas… …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • Moeritherium — …   Википедия

  • moeritherium — moeri·the·ri·um …   English syllables

  • moeritherium — ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈthirēəm noun Usage: capitalized Etymology: New Latin, from Lake Moeris, ancient lake in Faiyûm province, northern Upper Egypt where remains of the genus were found + New Latin therium : a genus of Upper Eocene and Oligocene northern… …   Useful english dictionary

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