Gnathotitan

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Gnathotitan
Temporal range: Middle Eocene–Late Eocene
Gnathotitan2.png
Holotype of G. berkeyi
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family:† Brontotheriidae
Infratribe:† Embolotheriita
Genus:† Gnathotitan
Granger & Gregory, 1943
Species
  • G. berkeyi (Granger & Gregory, 1943)

Gnathotitan is a genus of brontotheriid mammal from Eocene Mongolia. [1]

Contents

Description

The jaw of Gnathotitan was remarkably large for a brontothere, with the lower jaw measuring 800 millimeters from the end of the jaw to the incisive border. The jaw is incredibly deep, and the molars are significantly larger than other brontotheres. The tips of the canine teeth are recurved, whilst the incisors are spoon-shaped. The horns are not present in any specimens, but it is inferred that they possessed them. [1] [2] The postcrania of Gnathotitan are unknown, but close relatives have a rather stout build similar to Teleoceras and Toxodon . [3]

Classification

It has been hypothesized the related genus Sphenocoelus was ancestral to Gnathotitan historically, [1] but recent phylogenies do not support this. [2] Currently, the genus is placed within the infratribe Embolotheriita. [2] [3] Currently, Gnathotitan is considered a sister taxon to Pollyosbornia. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Expeditions, Central Asiatic; Granger, Walter; Gregory, William K. "A revision of the Mongolian titanotheres. Bulletin of the AMNH ; v. 80, article 10". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 2025-10-10.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Mihlbachler, Matthew Christian (2008). "Species taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of the Brontotheriidae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) ; Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, no. 311". American Museum of Natural History.
  3. 1 2 Mihlbachler, Matthew C.; Mihlbachler, Matthew C.; Lucas, Spencer G.; Emry, Robert J.; Bayshashov, Bolat (2004). A new brontothere (Brontotheriidae, Perissodactyla, Mammalia) from the Eocene of the Ily Basin of Kazakstan and a phylogeny of Asian "horned" brontotheres. New York, NY: American Museum of Natural History.
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