250 



SUBUNGULATA 



ORDER IX 



shortening of the muzzle, to which is due the loss of the canines, the second 



and third upper incisors and the third lower incisors. The milk dentition 



2.1.4. 

 consists of , from which we can infer the former presence of the /g, P, 



and canines. The extremities are plantigrade, the terminal phalanges distally 

 flattened and with nails. 



The cheek teeth of the genus Procavia Storr (Hyrax Herm., Heterohyrax and 



Fig. 333. 



Procavia (Dendrohyrac) arborea Smith. Recent, Cape of Good Hope. A, Skull and lower jaw, 2/j. 



B, Left upper jaw from below, Vl- 



Denclrohjrax G-ray) (Fig. 333) resemble partly those of Bhinoceros, and partly 

 those of Paloplotherium or Anchilophus. 



Family 2. Saghatheriidae Andrews. 



:^- ' '• P large triangular in section, lower I ^ and I^ chisel-shaped, with two 



notches on the superior surface. Upper canines premolariform, lower canines and 

 /g, as well as P and P peg-like or premolariform and usually separated from one 

 another by diastema and also from the front incisors and canines. Premolars are as 

 a rule simpler than the molars, but the upper ones usually have four cusps, or have a 

 complete anterior transverse ridge and a short posterior one. Upper molars with 

 V/ -shaped ectoloph, having parastyle and mesostyle and two oblique ridges formed from 

 a small loph and a low inner loph. Lower molars with two more or less distinct 

 outer crescents and two inner cusps. M.^ always with a, third crescent. Snout usually 

 long and narrow, cranium convex with sagittal crest. Orbit situated very far back and 

 not completely closed. Lower jaw high, with broad canal underneath the dental row, 

 which opens under My Lateral toes are shorter and thinner than the middle toes. 

 Car pals, high and narrow. Distal articulation of astragalus faintly convex. 



The Saghatheriidae appear first in the Oligocene of Egypt and display an 

 unusual variety of forms. In size they range between that of a fox and tapir. 

 In dentition they vary from bunodont, pig-like (Geniohyus) and lophodont, 

 with Paloplotherium-Uke molars (Saghatherium). The upper molars of Geniohyus 

 and Bunohyrax are similar to those of the Anthracotheriidae, and the upper 

 molars of Megalohyrax to those of Palaeotherium. In Egypt the Saghatheriidae 

 soon become extinct, only the genus Saghatherium having a descendant in the 

 Lower Pliocene genus Pliohyrax. 



