PBDB Taxon

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Phenacodus

Mammalia - Phenacodontidae

Taxonomy

Phenacodus was named by Cope (1873). Its type is Phenacodus primaeous. It is the type genus of Phenacodontidae.

It was assigned to Perissodactyla by Cooper et al. (2014); and to Phenacodontidae by Cope (1873), Hay (1902), Carroll (1988), Archibald (1998), Thewissen et al. (2001), Rose et al. (2012) and Halliday et al. (2017).

Species

Opisthotomus astutus, Opisthotomus flagrans, P. bisonensis, P. grangeri (syn. Tetraclaenodon transitus), P. hemiconus, P. intermedius, P. magnus, P. matthewi (syn. P. gidleyi), P. primaevus (syn. P. omnivorus, Eohyus distans, P. nuniensis), P. sulcatus, P. trilobatus (syn. P. robustus), P. vortmani (syn. P. almiensis, P. apternus, P. copei), P. zuniensis

Species lacking formal opinion data

P. teilhardi

Synonyms

Eohyus was named by Marsh (1894). Its type is Eohyus distans. It is the type genus of Eohyidae.

It was synonymized subjectively with Phenacodus by Granger (1915), West (1976), Lucas (1980) and Thewissen (1990).

It was assigned to Eohyidae by Hay (1902).
Eohyus distans was named by Marsh (1894) [genotype]. It is a 3D body fossil. It is the type species of Eohyus.

It was synonymized subjectively with Phenacodus primaeous by Granger (1915), West (1976) and Lucas (1980); it was considered a nomen vanum by Thewissen (1990).
Opisthotomus was named by Cope (1875). Its type is Opisthotomus astutus.

It was synonymized subjectively with Phenacodus by Granger (1915), Gazin (1958) and Thewissen (1990).

It was assigned to Quadrumana by Cope (1875); to Pseudolemuridae by Schlosser (1877); and to Limnotheriidae by Hay (1902).
Phenacodus hemiconus was named by Cope (1882).

It was synonymized subjectively with Phenacodus primaeous by Granger (1915), Simpson (1937), Dorr (1958) and West (1976); it was synonymized subjectively with Phenacodus intermedius by Bown (1979); it was considered a nomen dubium by Thewissen (1990).
Phenacodus nuniensis was named by Cope (1885).

It was synonymized subjectively with Phenacodus primaeous by Granger (1915); it was considered a nomen dubium by Thewissen (1990).
Phenacodus omnivorus was named by Cope (1874).

It was synonymized subjectively with Phenacodus primaeous by Granger (1915); it was considered a nomen dubium by Thewissen (1990).
Phenacodus primaeous was named by Cope (1873). It is the type species of Phenacodus.

It was corrected as Phenacodus primaevus by Cope (1875) and Hay (1902); it was considered a nomen dubium by Thewissen (1990).
Trispondylus was named by Cope (1884). It is not extant.

It was replaced with Phenacodus by Granger (1915).

It was assigned to Phenacodontidae by Cope (1884) and Haeckel (1895).

Synonymy list

Year	Name and author
1873	Phenacodus Cope
1873	Phenacodus primaeous Cope p. 3
1874	Phenacodus omnivorus Cope
1875	Opisthotomus Cope p. 15
1875	Phenacodus omnivorus Cope p. 18
1875	Phenacodus primaevus Cope p. 18
1877	Opisthotomus Schlosser p. 34
1882	Phenacodus hemiconus Cope p. 179
1884	Trispondylus Cope
1885	Phenacodus nuniensis Cope
1894	Eohyus Marsh
1894	Eohyus distans Marsh p. 259 fig. 1
1895	Trispondylus Haeckel p. 534
1902	Phenacodus Hay p. 604
1902	Phenacodus hemiconus Hay p. 604
1902	Phenacodus nuniensis Hay p. 604
1902	Phenacodus omnivorus Hay p. 604
1902	Phenacodus primaevus Hay p. 604
1902	Eohyus Hay p. 651
1902	Eohyus distans Hay p. 651
1902	Opisthotomus Hay p. 792
1988	Phenacodus Carroll
1998	Phenacodus Archibald p. 321
2001	Phenacodus Thewissen et al. p. suppl.
2012	Phenacodus Rose et al.
2014	Phenacodus Cooper et al. p. 8 fig. 3
2017	Phenacodus Halliday et al. p. 527

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Rank	Name	Author
kingdom	Animalia	()
—	Bilateria
—	Eubilateria	Ax 1987
—	Deuterostomia
phylum	Chordata	Haeckel 1874
subphylum	Vertebrata
superclass	Gnathostomata
—	Osteichthyes	()
subclass	Sarcopterygii	()
subclass	Dipnotetrapodomorpha	(Nelson 2006)
subclass	Tetrapodomorpha	()
—	Tetrapoda
—	Reptiliomorpha
—	Anthracosauria
subclass	Amphibiosauria	Kuhn 1967
—	Cotylosauria	()
—	Amniota
subclass	Synapsida
—	Therapsida	()

Rank	Name	Author
infraorder	Cynodontia	()
—	Mammaliamorpha
—	Mammaliaformes
class	Mammalia
—	Cladotheria
—	Zatheria
subclass	Tribosphenida	()
subclass	Theria
—	Eutheria	()
—	Placentalia
—	Boreoeutheria
—	Laurasiatheria
—	Scrotifera
—	Euungulata
—	Panperissodactyla
—	Phenacodonta
family	Phenacodontidae	Cope 1881
genus	Phenacodus

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

G. †Phenacodus Cope 1873

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†Phenacodus bisonensis Gazin 1956

†Phenacodus grangeri Simpson 1935

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Invalid names: Tetraclaenodon transitus Dorr 1958 [synonym]

†Phenacodus intermedius Granger 1915

†Phenacodus magnus Thewissen 1990

†Phenacodus matthewi Simpson 1935

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Invalid names: Phenacodus gidleyi Simpson 1935 [synonym]

†Phenacodus sulcatus Cope 1874

†Phenacodus trilobatus Cope 1881

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Invalid names: Phenacodus robustus Simpson 1937 [synonym]

†Phenacodus vortmani Cope 1880

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Invalid names: Phenacodus almiensis Gazin 1942 [synonym], Phenacodus apternus Cope 1882 [synonym], Phenacodus copei Granger 1915 [synonym]

†Phenacodus zuniensis Cope 1881

Invalid names: Eohyus Marsh 1894 [synonym], Opisthotomus Cope 1875 [synonym], Phenacodus hemiconus Cope 1882 [nomen dubium], Phenacodus primaevus Cope 1873 [nomen dubium], Trispondylus Cope 1884 [replaced]

Diagnosis

No diagnoses are available

Measurements

No measurements are available

Composition:

phosphaticsubp

Environment:

terrestrialsubc

Locomotion:

actively mobilec

Life habit:

ground dwellingf

Diet:

herbivoref

Reproduction:

viviparoussubc

Created:

2005-08-31 14:04:22

Modified:

2011-04-24 18:24:26

Source: f = family, subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum

References: Ji et al. 2002, Hendy et al. 2009, Lillegraven 1979, Carroll 1988, Archibald 1998

Age range: base of the Ti1 to the top of the Early/Lower Eocene or 61.70000 to 48.60000 Ma

Collections (534 total)

Time interval	Ma	Country or state	Original ID and collection number
Danian	66.0 - 61.6	USA (North Dakota)	P. primaevus (14962)
Torrejonian	63.8 - 60.9	USA (Texas)	P. grangeri, P. matthewi (14884) P. grangeri, P. matthewi, Ectocion montanensis (14956) P. sp., P. grangeri, Ectocion montanensis (14975) Tetraclaenodon puercensis (14948)
Ti1	61.7 - 56.8	USA (Montana)	P. bisonensis (15026)
Ti4	61.7 - 56.8	Canada (Saskatchewan)	P. primaevus (14978)
Ti5	61.7 - 56.8	USA (Wyoming)	P. grangeri, P. vortmani (46655) P. magnus (46654)
Tiffanian	61.7 - 56.8	USA (Wyoming)	P. bisonensis (14989) P. bisonensis, P. bisonensis (14988) P. bisonensis, P. grangeri (14964) P. grangeri (14936 14997 15001 15017 15057 15059 15060 15061 46653 190414 190417 190423 190437 190444 190445 190446 190464 190465 190466 190473 190474 190483 190487 190490 190492 190495) P. grangeri, P. magnus (15071) P. grangeri, P. magnus, P. vortmani (15007 53059) P. grangeri, P. vortmani (15058 190403 190418 190419 190438 190441 190443 190457 190462 190463 190468) P. magnus (15066 190404 190471) P. magnus, P. primaevus (15036) P. matthewi (15067) P. primaevus (14980 14981) P. sp. (14940 14999 15034 198262) P. sp., P. grangeri (14926) P. vortmani (85096 190435 190470 190481) P. vortmani, P. sp. (15049)
Tiffanian	61.7 - 56.8	Canada (Alberta)	P. primaevus (14995)
Tiffanian	61.7 - 56.8	USA (Colorado)	P. grangeri, P. magnus (174227) P. grangeri, P. vortmani (14935 14943)
Tiffanian	61.7 - 56.8	USA (North Dakota)	P. primaevus (14977) P. sp. (15000)
Tiffanian	61.7 - 56.8	USA (Montana)	P. bisonensis (15025) P. magnus (14993 15002)
Tiffanian	61.7 - 56.8	USA (California)	P. bisonensis (143202 224203 224204 224210 224211 224212 224213 224214 224215) P. bisonensis, P. matthewi (154724) P. grangeri (14872)
Tiffanian - Clarkforkian	61.7 - 54.9	USA (Wyoming)	P. primaevus (15211) P. vortmani, P. primaevus (15035)
Late/Upper Paleocene	58.7 - 55.8	USA (Maryland)	P. sp. (14947)
Late/Upper Paleocene	58.7 - 55.8	USA (Wyoming)	P. grangeri, P. magnus (15018) P. grangeri, P. vortmani (188220) P. magnus (15024 188231)
Late/Upper Paleocene - Early/Lower Eocene	58.7 - 48.6	USA (California)	P. vortmani (224216)
Cf1	56.2 - 54.9	USA (Wyoming)	P. grangeri, P. vortmani (46649)
Cf2	56.2 - 54.9	USA (Wyoming)	P. sp., P. intermedius (46651)
Cf3	56.2 - 54.9	USA (Wyoming)	P. sp. (46676)
Clarkforkian	56.2 - 54.9	USA (Montana)	P. primaevus (15079)
Clarkforkian	56.2 - 54.9	USA (Colorado)	P. primaevus (15232 15234 15240 15242 15243 15246 15250 15253 15257 15259 15347 15348) P. vortmani (15233 15237 15239 15245 15258 15344) P. vortmani, P. primaevus (15241 15248 15252 15254 15255 15346)
Clarkforkian	56.2 - 54.9	USA (Wyoming)	P. intermedius (15072 15177 15214 154182 164513 164518 190415 190451 190453) P. intermedius, P. vortmani (15213 190431 190434 190455) P. primaevus (15078 15085 15087 15091 15094 15095 15096 15099 15101 15103 15104 15105 15106 15107 15108 15109 15110 15111 15112 15114 15119 15120 15121 15123 15126 15127 15131 15133 15135 15137 15138 15139 15140 15144 15146 15148 15149 15150 15151 15154 15155 15159 15160 15162 15163 15164 15171 15173 15174 15176 15178 15180 15182 15183 15184 15185 15186 15187 15188 15189 15192 15193 15196 15197 15198 15200 15201 15203 15204 15205 15206 15207 15212 15218) P. primaevus, P. almiensis (15075) P. primaevus, P. sp. (15199) P. sp. (15216) P. vortmani (15077 15116 15124 15143 15165 15210 164515) P. vortmani, P. primaevus (15084 15092 15097 15098 15102 15115 15132 15141 15142 15147 15152 15156 15161 15172 15181 15190 15191)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	France (Marne)	P. sp. (35539) P. teilhardi, P. sp. (35533)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	Belgium (Hainaut)	P. teilhardi (87947)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	Belgium (Brabant)	P. teilhardi (35531)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	France (Aude)	P. sp. (182641)
Ypresian	56.0 - 47.8	United Kingdom (England)	P. lemoinei (38868)
Graybullian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Wyoming)	P. vortmani (15701)
Lostcabinian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Wyoming)	P. intermedius (16005) P. intermedius, P. vortmani (15997) P. primaevus (16078) P. vortmani (16000) P. vortmani, P. primaevus (15915 15917 15930 16073)
Lysitean	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Colorado)	P. vortmani (15653)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Wyoming)	P. intermedius (15511 15517 15695 15704 15759 46640 46641 46644 46650 46664 46669 46671 46672 46673 46674 46675 46680 46687 46688 46689 46719 46721 46724 46730 46731 46732 46738 46761 46763 46770 46771 46776 46780 46782 46788 46789 46791 46797 46804 46805 46816 46817 46818 46837 46838 46839) P. intermedius, P. trilobatus (15697 15698 15699 15705 46645 46733 46736 46739 46767 46772) P. intermedius, P. trilobatus, P. vortmani (15694 15702 15707 46682 46792) P. intermedius, P. vortmani (15505 15509 15510 15512 15514 15516 15566 15590 15592 15683 15687 46643 46683 46693 46794 46807 46808 46809 46812 46814 46819) P. intermedius, P. vortmani, P. primaevus (15507 15520) P. primaevus (15455 15474 15493 15504 15515 15519 15522 15523 15531 15532 15533 15534 15536 15542 15549 15573 15661 15756 16008 16023 16057) P. sp. (15586 15594 15688 15696 15714 15900 15914 15931 15932 15996 16075 46637 46638 46652 46690 46691 46697 46748 46757 46793 46829 46832) P. trilobatus (15593 15682 46698 46718 46735 46745 46753 46756 46760 46762 46773 46846 46852 186939) P. trilobatus, P. vortmani (46749) P. vortmani (15456 15458 15467 15541 15543 15544 15547 15548 15550 15551 15552 15553 15554 15557 15563 15564 15567 15575 15576 15578 15587 15588 15589 15619 15648 15692 15703 15839 15889 15912 15934 15959 15963 46636 46647 46657 46659 46685 46692 46694 46696 46699 46700 46704 46705 46707 46734 46741 46742 46746 46754 46759 46768 46803 46810 46811 46813 46820 46830 46847 46849 46851) P. vortmani, P. primaevus (15468 15491 15524 15538 15555 15556 15558 15559 15729 15852 15933 15942 15964 16055)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Colorado)	P. intermedius (15646) P. intermedius, P. matthewi (15887) P. intermedius, P. primaevus (15450 15845) P. primaevus (15220 15261 15342 15349 15352 15358 15361 15363 15364 15370 15371 15372 15374 15377 15379 15380 15381 15383 15384) P. primaevus, P. matthewi (15480) P. sp. (15858 15860 15864 15870) P. vortmani (15225 15279 15385 15650) P. vortmani, P. primaevus (15350)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	Mexico (Baja California)	P. vortmani (15671)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (Texas)	P. primaevus (15847)
Wasatchian	55.8 - 50.3	USA (New Mexico)	P. omnivorus (15452) P. primaevus (15602 15605 15611 15612) P. sp. (15448) P. vortmani (15439)
Early/Lower Eocene	55.8 - 48.6	USA (Wyoming)	P. intermedius (154251 154257 154262 154264 154277) P. intermedius, P. vortmani (154255) P. sp. (15690) P. trilobatus (15708) P. vortmani (15680 15684 15685 15700) P. vortmani, P. sp. (15679)
Wasatchian - Bridgerian	55.8 - 46.2	USA (Wyoming)	P. sp. (16134)
Bridgerian	50.3 - 46.2	USA (Wyoming)	P. primaevus (16084 16137 16244 16415) P. vortmani, P. primaevus (16207)