with model by
Erwin S. Christman,
AMNH. It was about the size of small
cattle, with a weight of 600–800 kg depending on the species. These animals are commonly found in
Wyoming fossil beds primarily as fossilized teeth.
P. major was the largest species, reaching the size of a small cow. Its describer,
Joseph Leidy, erroneously thought that
Palaeosyops consumed both plants and animals after examining the fang-like canines. However, it is now known that all brontotheres were strict herbivores, and that many, if not most genera of hornless brontotheres had fang-like canines, possibly for both defense from predators, and intraspecific competition. == References ==