1. An extinct hoofed mammal of the family Oreodonidae, common in North America during the Oligocene and Miocene epochs, resembling a small deer or sheep.
Usage: paleontology; often used in plural form 'oreodonts'

Examples

• Fossils of oreodonts are frequently found in the badlands of South Dakota.
• The oreodont was a small, four-legged herbivore that roamed North America millions of years ago.
• Paleontologists study oreodont teeth to understand the diet of these extinct animals.
• Many oreodont skeletons have been preserved in volcanic ash deposits.
• The oreodont's closest living relatives are thought to be camels and deer.