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Description
Continuing with the extinct pronghorns. Merycodus was one of the earliest known pronghorn genera, living from about 17 million years ago to about 10 million years ago. These early pronghorns had different horns from the later ones: they were apparently not covered by horny sheaths, but started out covered in skin and fur, which rubbed off to expose the bone. They did not shed these like deer's antlers. This and other merycodont-pronghorns had a 'burr' at the base of the horn, probably separating the part that shed the skin from the basal pedicel from which they grew. Merycodus was somewhat smaller than the extant pronghorn. These simple, small, two-forked horns were the 'template' from which bigger, more elaborate horns evolved in later species, which you'll soon see here I hope! Pencil drawing, coloured with Photoshop.

Description
Continuing with the extinct pronghorns. Merycodus was one of the earliest known pronghorn genera, living from about 17 million years ago to about 10 million years ago. These early pronghorns had different horns from the later ones: they were apparently not covered by horny sheaths, but started out covered in skin and fur, which rubbed off to expose the bone. They did not shed these like deer's antlers. This and other merycodont-pronghorns had a 'burr' at the base of the horn, probably separating the part that shed the skin from the basal pedicel from which they grew. Merycodus was somewhat smaller than the extant pronghorn. These simple, small, two-forked horns were the 'template' from which bigger, more elaborate horns evolved in later species, which you'll soon see here I hope! Pencil drawing, coloured with Photoshop.