Miocene Leptomerycidae (Artiodactyla, Ruminantia) and their relationships. American Museum novitates ; no. 2596

Abstract

"Leptomerycidae, previously thought to have survived only from the Arikareean, are here recognized from the medial Miocene (late Hemingfordian into Valentinian) deposits of New Mexico, Texas, and Nebraska. These late-surviving Leptomerycidae belong to the species Pseudoparablastomeryx scotti and P. francesita, previously assigned to the Blastomerycinae. Likewise, Pronodens silberlingi from Arikareean deposits in Montana and possibly South Dakota is transferred to the Leptomerycidae from incertae sedis in the Cervidae. The relationships between these late Leptomerycidae and contemporaneous Blastomerycinae are shown to be remote despite several parallel features in common. Separation of the family Leptomerycidae from the family Hypertragulidae is advocated"--P. [1].