Poabromylus is a small extinct genus

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 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 Eocene

Eocene

The Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the...

 epoch (Uintan

Uintan

The Uintan North American Stage on the geologic timescale is the North American faunal stage according to the North American Land Mammal Ages chronology , typically set from 46,200,000 to 42,000,000 years BP lasting . It is usually considered to fall within the Eocene epoch...

 to Chadronian

Chadronian

The Chadronian age within the North American Land Mammal Ages chronology is the North American faunal stage typically set from 38,000,000 to 33,900,000 years BP, a period of . It is usually considered to fall within the Eocene epoch...

 stage) 46.2—33.9 Ma, existing for approximately .

Taxonomy

Poabromylus was named by Peterson (1931). Its type is Poabromylus kayi. It was assigned to 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:...

 by Peterson (1931), Carroll (1988), Prothero (1998) and Prothero and Ludtke (2007).

Morphology

Poabromylus resembled deer

Deer

Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...

. However they were more closely related to camelids

Camel

A camel is an even-toed ungulate within the genus Camelus, bearing distinctive fatty deposits known as humps on its back. There are two species of camels: the dromedary or Arabian camel has a single hump, and the bactrian has two humps. Dromedaries are native to the dry desert areas of West Asia,...

. In addition to having horns in the more usual place, protoceratids had additional, rostral horns above the orbital cavity

Orbit (anatomy)

In anatomy, the orbit is the cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated. "Orbit" can refer to the bony socket, or it can also be used to imply the contents...

.

Body mass

Three fossil specimens of Poabromylus were measured by M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist for body mass. The specimens were determined to weigh:

• Specimen 1: 19.6 kg (43.2 lb)
• Specimen 2: 25.9 kg (57.1 lb)
• Specimen 3: 12.8 kg (28.2 lb)

Fossil distribution

Fossils have been recovered from:

• Big Red Horizon, Chambers Tuff Formation, Presidio County, Texas
  Presidio County, Texas
  Presidio County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 7,304. Its county seat is Marfa. Presidio County is in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas and is named for the ancient border settlement of Presidio del Norte.-Geography:Presidio County is triangular in...
  
  
• Titus Canyon, Titus Canyon Formation, Inyo County, California
  Inyo County, California
  -National protected areas:* Death Valley National Park * Inyo National Forest * Manzanar National Historic Site-Major highways:* U.S. Route 6* U.S. Route 395* State Route 127* State Route 136* State Route 168* State Route 178...
  
  
• Titanothere Quarry, Duchesne River Formation, Uintah County, Utah
  Uintah County, Utah
  This page deals with the Utah County. For the Wyoming County, see Uinta County, Wyoming.Uintah County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2000 the population was 25,224 and by 2009 was estimated at 31,536. It was named for the Ute Indians, the tribe that lives in the basin. Its...
  
  
• Badwater Locality, Wagon Bed Formation, Natrona County, Wyoming