Rytiodus
{{Short description|Extinct genus of sirenian}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Miocene}}
| image = Rytiodus-bpk.jpg
| taxon = Rytiodus
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
- R. capgrandi (type species) Lartet, 1886
- R. heali Domning, Sorbi, 2011
}}
Rytiodus (meaning Rytina, "wrinkled", an old name for Steller's sea cow){{cite book| last = Dixon| first = Dougal| authorlink = Dougal Dixon | title = World Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures
| url = https://archive.org/details/worldencyclopedi00ddix| url-access = limited| publisher = Lorenz Books| year = 2008| location = New York| pages = [https://archive.org/details/worldencyclopedi00ddix/page/n472 475]
| isbn =978-0-7548-1730-7}} is an extinct genus of sirenian, whose fossils have been discovered in France, Europe and Libya.
Description
With a length of {{convert|6|m|ft|abbr=on}}, Rytiodus was about twice the size as modern sirenians, surpassed only by Steller's sea cow, which was up to {{convert|8|–|9|m|ft|abbr=on}} long. Like its closest modern relatives, the dugongs, Rytiodus had a pair of flippers, a streamlined body and a tail fin. Its flattened snout allowed it to feed in shallow coastal waters. Rytiodus had short tusks which it may have used to extract food from the sand.{{cite book|editor=Palmer, D.|year=1999 |title= The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals|publisher= Marshall Editions|location=London|page= 229|isbn= 1-84028-152-9}}
See also
{{Portal|Paleontology}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- Barry Cox, Colin Harrison, R.J.G. Savage, and Brian Gardiner. (1999): The Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures: A Visual Who's Who of Prehistoric Life., Simon & Schuster.
- David Norman. (2001): The Big Book Of Dinosaurs. Pg.347-348, Welcome Books.
{{Sirenian genera}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q676348}}
Category:Miocene mammals of Europe
Category:Miocene mammals of Africa
Category:Prehistoric placental genera
Category:Fossil taxa described in 1886
{{Paleo-sirenian-stub}}