Diadiaphorus

 ( Proterotheriids ) 

Diadiaphorus is an extinct genus of Litopterna mammal from the Miocene of Argentina (Ituzaingó, Pinturas, Chiquimil and Santa Cruz Formations) and Bolivia (Nazareno Formation), South America.

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Description Diadiaphorus closely resembled a horse, but was only around in body length with a weight , similar to a modern sheep.D. Patterson, Bruce (2012) Bones, Clones, and Biomes: The History and Geography of Recent Neotropical Mammals p.92

It had three toes, only one of which touched the ground. This toe had a large claw derived from the median digit, the two outer toes were rudimentary, much like those of early horses such as Merychippus. Unlike horses, however, Diadiaphorus lacked fused limb bones. Its skull was short and had a relatively large brain cavity. The neck of Diadiaphorus was shortened as well. Judging from its low molars, Diadiaphorus ate soft vegetation, such as leaves.

Diadiaphorus had brachyodont teeth, and the second upper and third lower incisors formed a set of pseudo-tusks. The upper molars of Diadiaphorus had two crescentic outer cusps which met in a vertical ridge. The dental formula is .

Categories: Proterotheriids, Miocene Mammals Of South America, Huayquerian, Chasicoan, Mayoan, Laventan, Colloncuran, Friasian, Santacrucian, Neogene Argentina, Fossils Of Argentina, Ituzaingó Formation, Neogene Bolivia, Fossils Of Bolivia, Fossil Taxa Described In 1887, Taxa Named By Florentino Ameghino, Prehistoric Placental Genera, Austral Or Magallanes Basin, Santa Cruz Formation

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