Oreodont is among the species of animals with no living relatives today. Their unusual skeletal structure has caused some disagreement about how exactly to classify these smallish mammals. Some studies have placed them in the same category as camels. We do, however, know that Oreodont was a smaller herbivore that typically grew to the size of a small – mid sized dog. They had toed feet, similar to a dog or a cat, but shorter legs and likely coarse hair like a pig. One thing is for sure, there are no animals living today that are quite like Oreodont.

About The Fossil

This Oreodont was somewhat of a runt, in comparison with other larger breeds. The skull is 4.6 inches long, which means he was likely not more than 40 lbs when he walked the earth. While Oreodont skulls are found with some regularity, this skull is in excellent shape being that it is entirely intact and containing all it’s teeth. Both rows of dull teeth were used for processing this small mammal’s vegetarian diet.

Name:	Oreodont
Fossil Type:	Skull
Age:	30 Million Years, Oligocene
Location:	Brule Formation, White River Badlands, South Dakota
Size:	4.6 inches