2G2 



THE AGE OF MAMMALS 



cideans were represented by Dinoiherium and Trilophodon angustidens; the 

 perissodactyls by Anchitheriwn and two rhinoceroses, D. simmorrensis 

 and Teleoceras brachypus, a successor of T. aurelianensis of the Lower 

 Miocene. There was one ancylopod (Macrotherium), three pig-Uke forms 

 (Listriodon, Sus, Choeromorus), among ruminants an antelope {Protra- 

 gocerus), a chevrotain (Dorcatherium) , and several cervulines, or deer-like 

 forms (Micromeryx, and Dicrocerus). 



A closely similar fauna existed on the plateaux of Bavaria and Swabia 

 as described by Otto Roger.^ He refers the bear of this region to Pseu- 

 darctos, one of the forms intermediate between the dog and bear families 



common in the Miocene. The remaining carni- 

 vores, insectivores, and rodents are closely 

 similar to those of La Grive. Among the 

 rodents are the flying-squirrels (Sciuropterus) , 

 now distributed in southern Asia and Holarctica. 

 The proboscideans, perissodactyls, and suillines 

 were also the same, the latter including the 

 three Middle Miocene genera (Cheer otherium, 

 Hyotherium, and Listriodon). The ruminants 

 are abundant, varied, and exhibit great range 

 in size. One of the larger animals is the brachy- 

 odont or browsing Palceomeryx, an Asiatic animal which also finds its way 

 to America. It is of doubtful affinity. Of the three species of Palceomeryx 

 recorded probably all were hornless, although attaining the size of existing 

 deer or reindeer; they are to be regarded as precursors rather than ancestors 

 of the deer. Schlosser has suggested their possible affinity to the family 

 of giraffes. Dicrocerus is a cervuline of the size of the existing fallow deer, 

 bearing forked antlers very much like those of the muntjac. These animals 

 inhabited the woods of Bavaria in great herds. Lagomeryx is a tiny cervu- 

 line deer smaller than any living species. Micromeryx is a small, slender, 

 long-legged ruminant, in Roger's opinion probably closer to the antelopes 

 than to the deer. The flat-horned antelopes (Protragocerus) are repre- 

 sented by two species, and the water chevrotains by Dorcatherium, closely 

 related to the recent hornless water chevrotain (Hycemoschus) of Africa. 



* Roger, O., Wirbelthierreste aus dem Dinotheriensande der bayerisch-schwabischen 

 Hochebene; and, Wirbelthierreste aus dem Obermiocari der bayerisch-schwabischen Hochebene. 

 Ber. Naturwiss. Ver. Schwaben u. Neuburg in Augsburg, nos. 33, 33, 36; 1898, 1902, 1904. 



Fig. 131. — Middle Miocene 

 Dicrocerus of Steinheim (X ^^). 

 After Fraas. 



