New Type Of Tiny Deer Discovered In South Dakota

(Interior, SD) — A new type of tiny deer has been discovered in South Dakota. Researchers from Badlands National Park, the American Museum of Natural History and California State Polytechnic University found a fossil that lived in the state nearly 32 million years ago. They say the tiny hornless deer is new genus, which according to Britannica, means the deer is rank or level of biological classification between family and species. The deer, Santuccimeryx or Santucci’s ruminant, was named after Vincent L. Santucci. He is the Senior Paleontologist and Paleontology Program Coordinator in the Geologic Resources Division of the National Park Service. Santucci said “he’s personally and professionally grateful to be associated with this important new fossil discovery from Badlands National Park.”