protylopus
/prɒtɪˈlɒpəs/Definitions
1. noun
An extinct genus of early horse-like mammals of the Eocene epoch.
“The discovery of the protolopus in the fossil record helped scientists understand the evolution of horses.”
2. noun
A hypothetical ancestor of a particular group of animals.
“The protolopus of the dolphin family is still a subject of ongoing research.”