Distant Relatives

One of the most exciting finds at Ashfall was the large number of Teleoceras skeletons found grouped so closely together. The Teleoceras had always presented a mystery to scientists because its teeth and its body do not match up the way one would expect in the animal kingdom. In an open, grassy savanna, you would generally expect to see animals with long graceful legs and slim bodies such as those found on gazelles.

However, the Teleoceras was equipped with a large, barrel-shaped body and short, stubby legs. Its teeth however, were similar to those of a gazelle or a horse and were designed for eating grass. It seemed as though nature had made a mistake.

The Teleoceras also had much shorter legs than its successor, the modern-day rhinoceros, and was shaped more like the stumpy-legged hippo. Once you compare these two animals, it is easy to see where the teleoceras gets its shape. It was an herbivorous mammal and semi-aquatic, just like the modern-day hippo. This would explain why all of these animals were found so closely together in and around the watering hole.