Sespia ("of Sespe Creek") is an extinct genus of oreodont endemic to North America. They lived during the Late Oligocene 26.3—24.8 mya, existing for approximately . Sespia was cat to goat-sized and desert-dwelling. The genus was closely related to the larger Leptauchenia.

Fossils of the best known species, the cat-sized S. californica, have been found in California and are known from literally thousands of specimens. The largest species, the goat-sized S. ultima, is known from Late Oligocene deposits in Nebraska. S. ultima was once placed in a separate monotypic genus as Megasespia middleswarti. Other species were once placed within Leptauchenia.

Palaeoecology

Paired analysis of its dental mesowear and microwear suggests that S. nitida was a folivorous browser.

References

External links

• https://www.sdnhm.org/exhibits/mystery/fg_sespia.html San Diego Natural History Museum "Fossil Mysteries Field Guide: Sespia californica