Indohyus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indohyus |
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| Indohyus major | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | †Raoellidae |
| Genus: | †Indohyus |
| Species | |
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I. indirae |
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Indohyus (say "In-doh-HY-us") was a small, deer-like animal that lived a very long time ago. It lived about 49 to 48 million years ago in a place called Kashmir, which is in India. Its name means "India's pig."
Scientists believe Indohyus is a very important animal. It is thought to be the closest relative to whales and dolphins that lived on land! It was part of a group of animals called even-toed ungulates. This group includes animals like deer, cows, and hippos today.
Indohyus was about the size of a raccoon or a house cat. It ate plants, so it was a herbivore. This ancient creature had some special features that hint at how whales evolved from land animals.
Contents
What Made Indohyus Special?
Indohyus had some unique traits that connect it to whales. Even though it lived on land, it showed signs of being able to live in water too.
Bones for Underwater Life
One special thing about Indohyus was its bones. It had a thick and heavy outer bone coating. This is similar to the bones of modern animals like the hippopotamus. Heavy bones help an animal sink or stay underwater easily.
A Clever Survival Trick
This heavy bone structure suggests Indohyus might have had a survival trick. It could have dived into water and hidden there when it felt threatened. This is like how some modern animals, such as the African mousedeer, behave. When a bird of prey threatens them, they dive into water and can stay hidden for several minutes.
Species of Indohyus
Scientists have found two different kinds, or species, of Indohyus:
- I. indirae
- I. major
Images for kids
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Indohyus and raccoon skulls showing the ear structure of the auditory bulla
See also
In Spanish: Indohyus para niños
