Adinotherium

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Adinotherium [1]
Temporal range: Mid-Late Miocene (Santacrucian-Huayquerian)
~17.5–6.8  Ma
Adinotherium Berlin.jpg
A. ferum skull at the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Notoungulata
Family: Toxodontidae
Subfamily: Nesodontinae
Genus: Adinotherium
Ameghino 1887
Type species
Adinotherium ovinum
Species
  • A. corriguenenseAmeghino 1907
  • A. ferumAmeghino 1887
  • A. haplodontoidesAmeghino 1891
  • A. karaikense
  • A. nitidumAmeghino 1887
  • A. ovinum(Owen 1846)
  • A. robustumAmeghino 1891
  • A. splendidum
Synonyms

Adinotherium (meaning "not terrible beast") [2] is an extinct genus of Toxodontidae, large bodied hoofed ungulates which inhabited South America during the Middle to Late Miocene, from 17.5 to 6.8 Ma and existed for approximately 10.7 million years, Santacrucian to Huayquerian in the South American land mammal ages (SALMA). Fossils of Adinotherium have been found in the Santa Cruz and Ituzaingó Formations of Argentina and the Chucal and Río Frías Formations of Chile. [3]

Contents

Description

Restoration of A. ovinum Adinotherium ovinum.jpg
Restoration of A. ovinum

The approximately 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) long animal, with an estimated 120 kilograms (260 lb) body mass, looked like a smaller version of its rhinoceros-like relative Toxodon . [4] Its front legs were somewhat longer than those of its relatives, making its hip and shoulder height about equal. A small horn atop Adinotherium's skull may have played a role in the mating season. [5]

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References

  1. range and species from Croft et al. (2004), p. 8; synonyms from McKenna and Bell (1997), p. 459.
  2. Palmer (1904) p. 80.
  3. Adinotherium at Fossilworks.org
  4. "Adinotherium ferum - Бестиарий - Доисторические животные - Prehistoric Fauna". prehistoric-fauna.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  5. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 253. ISBN   1-84028-152-9.

Bibliography