FOSSILS SPECIMEN: ARTIODACTYLA

Fossils are defined as any evidence of prehistoric life. There are two types of fossils: Body Fossils include remains of skeletal bones, shell, carapace, test and teeth. Trace Fossils are clues the organism existed such as foot prints, tracks, burrows and coprolites (fossil dung).

Artiodactyla means “even finger/toe” in Ancient Greek. They are more are commonly called Even-toed ungulates first appeared in the early Eocene Epoch about 55 million years ago and persist as a group until the Holocene. Artiodactyls bear their weight equally on two of their five toes, the third and fourth. To see my Artiodactyls models click here.

Kingdom: Animalia – Phylum: Chordata – Class: Mammalia – Order: Artiodactyla

(even-toed ungulates)

Lower Eocene to Holocene

Camels

Pliocene to Holocene

Fossil Camel Ankle

Pleistocene

Texas, United States

Bison

Early Pleistocene to Holocene

Bison Vertebrae

Pleistocene

North America

Fossil Bison Hind Leg Bone

Pleistocene

North America

Mammal Bison horn core

Pleistocene

United States, North America

Oreodonts

Late Eocene to Miocene

Oreodont Complete Skull

(Dorsal)

Miocene

South Dakota

Oreodont Skull

Miocene

South Dakota 

Oreodont Teeth

North America

Miocene

Oreodont Long Bones

North America

Miocene

DEER

Early Oligocene to Holocene

Fossil Deer Antler

Pleistocene

Florida, United States

Fossil Deer Antler

Pleistocene

Florida, United States