Kyptoceras
Encyclopedia
Kyptoceras is a small extinct genus
of Artiodactyla, of the family Protoceratidae
, endemic to southeastern North America
from the Miocene
to Early Pliocene epoch 23.03—3.6 Ma, existing for approximately .
. It was assigned to Kyptoceratini by Webb (1981), Prothero (1998), Webb et al. (2003) and Prothero and Ludtke (2007).
Kyptoceras is the last known member of the family. The protoceratids were believed to have been driven to extinction by more advanced grazing herbivores, but in Florida, where there were still relatively large tracts of forest, the protoceratids were able to survive. This species genus name comes from its bent horns, in which the two horns above the eyes curved over its head, and the two nasal horns pointed forward. The species name, amatorum, comes in honor of all amateur fossil collectors, including Frank Garcia (Ruskin, Florida) the amateur who found it and donated it to the Florida Museum of Natural History.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of Artiodactyla, of the family Protoceratidae
Protoceratidae
Protoceratidae is an extinct family of herbivorous North American artiodactyls that lived during the Eocene through Pliocene at around 46.2—4.9 Ma., existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
, endemic to southeastern North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
from the Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
to Early Pliocene epoch 23.03—3.6 Ma, existing for approximately .
Taxonomy
Kyptoceras was named by Webb (1981). Its type is Kyptoceras amatorum. It is the type genus of KyptoceratiniKyptoceratini
Kyptoceratini is an extinct tribe of the subfamily Synthetoceratinae, deer-like mammals within the family Protoceratidae belonging to the order Artiodactyla, endemic to North America during the Miocene through Pliocene, living 23.03—3.6 Ma, existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:Kyptoceratini is a...
. It was assigned to Kyptoceratini by Webb (1981), Prothero (1998), Webb et al. (2003) and Prothero and Ludtke (2007).
Kyptoceras is the last known member of the family. The protoceratids were believed to have been driven to extinction by more advanced grazing herbivores, but in Florida, where there were still relatively large tracts of forest, the protoceratids were able to survive. This species genus name comes from its bent horns, in which the two horns above the eyes curved over its head, and the two nasal horns pointed forward. The species name, amatorum, comes in honor of all amateur fossil collectors, including Frank Garcia (Ruskin, Florida) the amateur who found it and donated it to the Florida Museum of Natural History.
Fossil distribution
Fossils have been recovered from:- Tiger Bay Mine, Upper Bone Valley Formation, Polk County, FloridaPolk County, FloridaPolk County is located in central Florida between the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando metropolitan areas. The county was established by the state government in 1861 on the eve of the American Civil War and named after former United States president James K. Polk. The county seat is Bartow and its...
- Lee Creek Mine, Yorktown FormationYorktown FormationThe Yorktown Formation is a mapped bedrock unit in the Coastal Plain of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. It is overconsolidated and highly fossiliferous.-Description:...
, Beaufort County, North CarolinaBeaufort County, North Carolina- Law and government :Beaufort County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments.Beaufort County is one of the proposed sites for a Navy outlying landing field. This practice airfield would allow pilots to simulate landings on an aircraft carrier...