Floridaceras Explained

Floridaceras is an extinct genus of rhinocerotid of the Miocene epoch (early Hemingfordian), endemic to North America, living from around ~20.6โ€“16.3 Ma, existing for approximately .

Taxonomy

Floridaceras was named by Wood (1964). Its type is Floridaceras whitei. It was assigned to Rhinocerotidae by Wood (1964) and Carroll (1988); and to Aceratheriinae by Prothero (1998).[1]

Fossil distribution

The only site known is the Thomas Farm Site in Gilchrist County, Florida, ~20.6โ€”16.3 Ma.[2]

Description

Floridaceras was of unusually large size for a rhinoceros of the Hemingfordian. It would have been roughly comparable to a black rhinoceros[3] in size, much larger than contemporaries such as the Menoceras. Like many primitive Aceratheriines, it has no horn, relatively long limbs and brachydont dentition (indicating it was a browser).[4]

Notes and References

  1. D. R. Prothero. 1998. Rhinocerotidae. In C. M. Janis, K. M. Scott, and L. L. Jacobs (eds.), Evolution of Tertiary mammals of North America 595-605
  2. T. E. White. 1942. The Lower Miocene mammal fauna of Florida. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 92(1):1-49
  3. Book: Pony Express Florida: Fossil Horse Newsletter ยท Volumes 1-10 . 1992 . Florida Museum of Natural History.
  4. Book: Prothero . Donald R. . The Evolution of North American Rhinoceroses . 2005 . Cambridge University Press . 9780521832403 . 67โ€“68.