List of brontothere genera

This list of brontotheres is a comprehensive listing of all genera that have ever been included in the family Brontotheriidae, excluding purely vernacular terms. The list includes all commonly accepted genera, but also genera that are now considered invalid, doubtful (nomen dubium), or were not formally published (nomen nudum), as well as junior synonyms of more established names, and genera that are no longer considered to be brontotheres.

The list includes names, out of which 44 are considered valid genera whose classification in Brontotheriidae is not disputed.

Scope and terminology There is no official, canonical list of brontothere genera. This list follows the genera recognized in a 2008 monograph on brontotheres by Matthew C. Mihlbachler, unless otherwise cited to more recent literature.

Naming conventions and terminology follow the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Technical terms used include:

Junior synonym: A name which describes the same taxon as a previously published name. If two or more genera are formally designated and the type specimens are later assigned to the same genus, the first to be published (in chronological order) is the senior synonym, and all other instances are junior synonyms. Senior synonyms are generally used, except by special decision of the ICZN, but junior synonyms cannot be used again, even if deprecated. Junior synonymy is often subjective, unless the genera described were both based on the same type specimen. Nomen nudum (Latin for "naked name"): A name that has appeared in print but has not yet been formally published by the standards of the ICZN. Nomina nuda (the plural form) are invalid, and are therefore not italicized as a proper generic name would be. If the name is later formally published, that name is no longer a nomen nudum and will be italicized on this list. Often, the formally published name will differ from any nomina nuda that describe the same specimen. In this case, these nomina nuda will be deleted from this list in favor of the published name. Preoccupied name: A name that is formally published, but which has already been used for another taxon. This second use is invalid (as are all subsequent uses) and the name must be replaced. As preoccupied names are not valid generic names, they will also go unitalicized on this list. Nomen dubium (Latin for "dubious name"): A name describing a fossil with no unique diagnostic features.

List of genera GenusAuthorsYearStatusLocationNotesAcrotitanYe1983ValidAktautitanMihlbachler et al.2004ValidAllopsMarsh 1887Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of MegaceropsAnisacodonMarsh1875PreoccupiedN/ARenamed to Diconodon since Anisacodon was preoccupied; Diconodon is a synonym of MegaceropsArctotitanWang1978DubiousPossibly a synonym of GnathotitanAteleodonSchlaikjer1935Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of MegaceropsBalochititanopsMissiaen, Gunnell & Gingerich2011ValidBrachydiastematheriumBöckh & Matyasovski1876ValidBrontopsMarsh 1887Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of MegaceropsBrontotheriumMarsh 1873Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of MegaceropsBunobrontopsHolroyd & Ciochon2000ValidDanjiangiaWang1995Valid, classification disputedOriginally described as a chalicothere. A "lambdothere"; either a basal brontothere or a close relative.DesmatotitanGranger & Gregory1943ValidDianotitanChow et al.1974ValidDiconodonMarsh1876Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of MegaceropsDiplacodonMarsh1875ValidDiplocerasPeterson1914PreoccupiedN/ARenamed to Eotitanotherium since Diploceras was preoccupied; Eotitanotherium is a synonym of DiplacodonDiploclonusMarsh 1890Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of MegaceropsDolichorhinoidesGranger & Gregory1943Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of EpimanteocerasDolichorhinusHatcher1895ValidDuchesneodusLucas & Schoch1982ValidEometarhinusOsborn1919Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of PalaeosyopsEotheriumLeidy1853Sr. synonymN/ASynonym of MegaceropsEotitanopsOsborn1907ValidEotitanotheriumPeterson1914Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of DiplacodonEmbolotheriumOsborn1929ValidEpimanteocerasGranger & Gregory1943ValidEubrontotheriumMihlbachler2007ValidFossendorhinusMihlbachler2008ValidGnathotitanGranger & Gregory1943ValidGobihippusDashzeveg1979Valid, classification disputedOriginally described as an equoid; possibly a "lambdothere" or basal brontothereHaplacodonCope1889Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of MegaceropsHeterotitanopsPeterson1914Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of MetarhinusHyotitanGranger & Gregory1943DubiousPossibly a synonym of QufutitanLambdotheriumCope1880Valid, classification disputedA "lambdothere"; a basal brontothere, a close relative, or a relative of the palaeotheresLeidyotheriumProut1860Sr. synonymN/ASynonym of MegaceropsLeurocephalusOsborn, Scott & Speir1878Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of TelmatheriumLimnohyopsMarsh 1890Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of PalaeosyopsLimnohyusMarsh 1872Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of PalaeosyopsManteocerasHatcher1895Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of TelmatheriumMaobrontopsAverianov et al.2018ValidMegaceratopsCope1873Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of Megacerops; intended as a replacement name on "etymologic grounds"MegaceropsLeidy1870ValidMenodusPomel1849Sr. synonymN/ASynonym of MegaceropsMenopsMarsh 1887Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of MegaceropsMesatirhinusOsborn1908ValidMetarhinusOsborn1908ValidMetatelmatheriumGranger & Gregory1943ValidMetatitanGranger & Gregory1943ValidMicrodontaStovall1948Nomen nudumN/AUndescribed name used for a juvenile brontothere jaw from TexasMicrotitanGranger & Gregory1943ValidMiobasileusCope1873Nomen nudumN/AName used for a since lost brontothere skull from Colorado. Presumably a synonym of Megacerops.MulkrajanopsKumar & Sahni1985Dubious, classification disputedFragmentary; probably valid but might not be a brontothereNanotitanQi & Beard1996PreoccupiedN/ARenamed to Nanotitanops since Nanotitan was preoccupiedNanotitanopsQi & Beard1998ValidNasamplusMihlbachler2008ValidNotiotitanopsGazin & Sullivan1942ValidOreinotheriumRussell1934Dubious, classification disputedFragmentary, originally described as a chalicothere; possibly a brontotherePachytitanGranger & Gregory1943ValidPakotitanopsWest1980DubiousProbably valid, but based on insufficient fossil materialPalaeosyopsLeidy1870ValidParabrontopsGranger & Gregory1943ValidParvicornusMihlbachler & Deméré2009ValidPollyosborniaMihlbachler2008ValidProtembolotheriumYanovskaya1954ValidProtitanGranger & Gregory1943ValidProtitanopsStock1936ValidProtitanotheriumHatcher1895ValidPseudodiplacodonMader2000Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of DiplacodonPygmaetitanMiao1982ValidQufutitanWang & Wang1997ValidRhadinorhinusRiggs1912Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of MetarhinusRhinotitanGranger & Gregory1943ValidSivatitanopsPilgrim1925DubiousPossibly a synonym of BrachydiastematheriumSphenocoelusOsborn1895ValidSthenodectesGregory1912ValidSymborodonCope1873Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of MegaceropsTanyorhinusCook1926Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of SphenocoelusTeleodusMarsh1890Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of Megacerops; most fossils reassigned to DuchesneodusTelmatheriumMarsh1872ValidTelmatotheriumMarsh 1880Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of TelmatheriumTitanodectesGranger & Gregory1943ValidHas been suggested to be a synonym of EmbolotheriumTitanopsMarsh 1887Jr. synonymN/ASynonym of MegaceropsTitanotheriumLeidy1852Sr. synonymN/ASynonym of MegaceropsWickiaMihlbachler2008ValidXenicohippusBown & Kihm1981Valid, not a brontothereN/AListed as a basal brontothere by McKenna & Bell (1997); since consistently classified as an equoidXylotitanMihlbachler & Samuels2016Valid

Problematic species-level taxa The species listed below are considered dubious or otherwise problematic. Some are likely to be junior synonyms of established species whereas others may be distinct, but none are currently securely referred to a genus. The list uses the original generic assignments of the species but notes more recent classifications. SpeciesAuthorsYearLocationNotes"Eotitanotherium" lahiriiPilgrim1925Referred to Metatelmatherium in 1939. Could be Sivatitanops birmanicum."Epimanteoceras" amplusYanovskaya1976Belongs to a brontothere similar to Embolotherium and Protembolotherium, not Epimanteoceras. Could be Nasamplus progressus, but does not preserve overlapping fossil material with its holotype."Epimanteoceras" praecursorYanovskaya1953Non-diagnostic"Manteoceras" forisCook1926Based on unidentifiable juvenile fossils"Manteoceras" pratensisCook1926Based on unidentifiable juvenile fossils"Megacerops" primitivusLambe1908Referred to Duchesneodus in 1982. Could be Duchesneodus uintensis, Megacerops kuwagatarhinus, Notiotitanops mississippiensis, or Protitanops curryi."Menodus" bakeriStovall1948Non-diagnostic; likely a synonym of Protitanops curryi"Menodus" mongoliensisOsborn1925Isolated tooth; probably belongs to a species of Embolotherium or Titanodectes"Menodus" rumelicusToula1892Isolated teeth; possibly Sivatitanops, or fossils imported from the United States by laborers"Metatelmatherium" browniiColbert1938Isolated teeth; could be Sivatitanops birmanicum"Metatelmatherium" parvumGranger & Gregory1943Non-diagnostic"Microtitan" elongatusQi1987Non-diagnostic"Palaeosyops" vallidensCope1872Referred to Dolichorhinus in 1929. Non-diagnostic; could be Dolichorhinus hyognathus or Telmatherium validus."Protitan" cingulatusGranger & Gregory1943Could be Epimanteoceras formosus"Protitan" majorHuang & Zheng2004Non-diagnostic; could belong to a species of Metatitan"Protitanotherium" koreanicumTakai1939Fossils too fragmentary to compare to other taxa; may belong to multiple taxa. Holotype destroyed in World War II."Rhinotitan" orientalisYanovskaya1957Fossils too fragmentary to compare to other taxa"Rhinotitan" quadridensXu & Chiu1962Isolated teeth; non-diagnostic"Sivatitanops" rugosidensPilgrim1925Holotype is probably Rhinotitan sp."Tanyorhinus" harundivoraxCook1926Non-diagnostic; could be Sphenocoelus uintensis or Wickia brevirhinus"Teleodus" californicusStock1935Referred to Duchesneodus in 1982. Could be Notiotitanops mississippiensis or Protitanops curryi."Teleodus" thyboiBjork1967Referred to Duchesneodus in 1982. Could be Eubrontotherium clarnoensis, Notiotitanops mississippiensis, or Protitanops curryi."Titanotherium" bohemicumKiernik1913Fragmentary jaw; possibly imported from the United States by laborers

References