Perissodactyla/Notes
From Sedes Draconis
Earth Analogues
Living perissodactyls on Earth include the tapirs, the rhinoceroses, and the equids (horses, zebras, asses). They were once a more abundant and diverse group, but they have fallen behind and lost many niches to the newer artiodactyl groups world-wide.
The same happened in the South on Sedes, but on the Hajasith, perissodactyls continued to evolve in isolation from artiodactyls.
Sedes' Hyracodontidae and Indricotheridae are analogues of groups long extinct on Earth. On Earth they are considered to have been the same family, but on Sedes they have become more numerous and diversified, warranting two seperate families. On Earth, the hyracodonts and indricotheres are part of Superfamily Rhinoceratoidea, along with the true rhinoceroses. The latter group does not exist on Sedes.
On Earth, all living equids are very similar. The equids remain a more diverisified group on Sedes, taking the niches not only of Earthly equids, but also deer and antelope. No direct analogue to the domestic horse exists Sedes. The domestic bekena are more like something between an onager and a zebra, and will not willing bear a rider.
The tapirs are likewise more diverse than on Earth, where they comprise only a handful of species scattered across the tropics. On Sedes they have a wider range of habitats and sizes. They occupy many niches on the Hajasith similar to those of Earthly pigs, peccaries, and hippos.</div>
