Rhynchippus

Rhynchippus
Temporal range: early Oligocene
Rhynchippus equinus (on land) with Pyrotherium romeroi (in water)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: †Notoungulata
Family: †Notohippidae
Genus: †Rhynchippus
Ameghino, 1897
Species
  • †?R. equinus
  • †?R. pumilus

Rhynchippus is an extinct genus of notoungulate mammal.

Rhynchippus was about 1 metre (3.3 ft) in length and weighted up to 120 kg, with a deep body and three clawed toes on each foot.[1] Although its teeth were extremely similar to those of horses or rhinos, Rhynchippus was actually a relative of Toxodon, having developed teeth suitable for grazing through convergent evolution. Unlike its relatives, Rhynchippus had no large tusks; they were the same size and shape as the incisors. Enamel on the molars allowed it to chew tough food.[2]

References

  1. ↑ D. Patterson, Bruce (2012) Bones, Clones, and Biomes: The History and Geography of Recent Neotropical Mammals p.83
  2. ↑ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 252. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
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