Thoatherium

Extinct genus of litopterns

Thoatherium
Temporal range: Early Miocene (Santacrucian)
~17.5–16.3 Ma
PreꞒ
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Thoatherium skeleton
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Litopterna
Family: Proterotheriidae
Subfamily: Proterotheriinae
Genus: Thoatherium
Ameghino 1887
Type species
Thoatherium minusculum
Ameghino, 1887
Species
  • T. bilobatum Ameghino 1904
  • T. karaikense Ameghino 1904
  • T. minusculum Ameghino 1887
  • T. rhabdodon Ameghino 1894
  • T. velatum Ameghino 1904
Synonyms
Genus synonymy
  • Oreomeryx Mercerat, 1891
  • Rhagodon Ameghino, 1891
  • Diaphragmodon Mercerat, 1893
T. minisculum
  • Proterotherium cavum
    Ameghino, 1887
  • Rhagodon gracilis
    Ameghino, 1891
  • Thoatherium crepidatum
    Ameghino, 1891
  • Anisolophus burmeisteri
    Mercerat, 1891
  • Oreomeryx proprius
    Mercerat, 1891
  • Oreomyx superbus
    Mercerat, 1891
  • Diaphragmodon cavum
    (Ameghino, 1887) Mercerat, 1893
  • Diaphragmodon burmeisteri
    (Mercerat, 1891) Mercerat, 1893

Thoatherium (meaning "active swift-beast") is an extinct genus of litoptern mammals from the Early Miocene of Argentina. Fossils of the genus have been found in the Santa Cruz Formation in Argentina.[1]

Description

Restoration of Thoatherium minusculum

With a length of 70 centimetres (2.3 ft), the gazelle-like Thoatherium was a small representative of the order Litopterna. Judging from its long legs, it was a fast runner. Thoatherium had remarkably reduced toes; only one horse-like hoof remained. Thoatherium even lacked splint bones, which are remnants of the second and fourth toe found in modern horses. Judging from its generalised, brachydont teeth, Thoatherium fed on soft leaves rather than on tough grasses.[2][3]

References

  • flagArgentina portal
  • iconPaleontology portal
  • Prehistoric mammals portal
  1. ^ Thoatherium at Fossilworks.org
  2. ^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 247. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
  3. ^ Darin A. Croft, Horned Armadillos and Rafting Monkeys: The Fascinating Fossil Mammals of South America, Indiana University Press, 29/08/2016
  • v
  • t
  • e
Xenungulata, Pyrotheria, Astrapotheria, and other minor groups
Kollpaniidae?
  • Andinodus
  • Molinodus
  • Pucanodus
  • Simoclaenus
  • Tiuclaenus
Didolodontidae
Xenungulata
Carodniidae
Pyrotheria
Colombitheriidae
Pyrotheriidae
Astrapotheria
Trigonostylopidae
Astrapotheriidae
Albertogaudryinae
Astrapotheriinae
Uruguaytheriinae
Carodnia vieirai

Pyrotherium romeroi

Astrapotherium magnum
Litopterna
Protolipternidae
Amilnedwardsiidae
Sparnotheriodontidae
Indaleciidae
Notonychopidae
Lopholipterna
Adianthidae
Macraucheniidae
Cramaucheniinae
Macraucheniinae
Proterotheriidae
Anisolambdinae
Proterotheriinae
Megadolodinae
Uncertain placement
Theosodon garretorum

Macrauchenia patachonica

Diadiaphorus majusculus
incertae sedis
Notioprogonia
  • Satshatemnus
  • Seudenius
Henricosborniidae
Notostylopidae
Toxodontia
Homalodotheriidae
Isotemnidae
Eutoxodontia
Leontiniidae
Notohippidae
Toxodontidae
Nesodontinae
Toxodontinae
Typotheria
Archaeopithecidae
Oldfieldthomasiidae
Interatheriidae
Interatheriinae
Notopithecinae
Mesotheriidae
Mesotheriinae
Archaeohyracidae
Hegetotheriidae
Hegetotheriinae
Pachyrukhinae
Pachyrukhini
Thomashuxleya rostrata

Huilatherium pluriplicatum

Toxodon platensis
Taxon identifiers
Thoatherium


Stub icon

This prehistoric mammal-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e