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| Anayatherium | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Notoungulata |
| Family: | †Leontiniidae |
| Genus: | †Anayatherium Shockey 2005 |
| Type species | |
| †Anayatherium ekecoa Shockey, 2005 | |
| Species | |
| |
Anayatherium is anextinctgenus ofnotoungulate belonging to the familyLeontiniidae. It lived during the LateOligocene, and its fossilized remains were discovered inSouth America.
It was a large-sized and heavy-shaped animal, that could reach the size of acow. It may have reached a length of 2.5 meters ; its skull was 45 centimeters long, and its weight may have exceeded 350 kilograms.
Anayatherium was characterized by a very short muzzle, compared to other leontiniids. The shortening of the muzzle was reflected in the dentition by the loss of one of the upper teeth, probably a canine. The first upper incisor was larger than the second, as inScarrittia, while the third and fourth premolars had vertical lingual grooves, as inLeontinia. The second upper incisor was of a typical shape, unlikeLeontinia in which it had instead the shape of a canine ; inAnayatherium, the first incisor took the place of the canine. UnlikeScarrittia, the premolars had grooved protocones. The molars were low-crowned (brachydont), and only slightly high-crowned (hypsodont) on the lingual side.
The genusAnayatherium was first described in 2015 by Shockey, based on fossils found in theSalla Formation ofBolivia, in terrains dated from the LateOligocene. Two species were attributed to the genus,A. ekecoa, thetype species, andA. fortis, mainly distinguished by their respective sizes.
Anayatherium was a leontiniid, a family of notoungulates typical of the Oligocene andMiocene, with heavy and large bodies.Anayatherium seems to have belonged to a clade includingColpodon,Ancylocoelus, and the two derived generaLeontinia andScarrittia.
Like all leontiniids,Anayatherium was a heavy quadrupedalfolivore. Fossils ofAnayatherium are unusually rare for a leontiniid ; leontiniids were usually common animals in their habitats. It is possible that the Salla Formation may not have been particularly suited environment for leontiniids during the Late Oligocene.
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