| Wainka | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Litopterna |
| Family: | †Proterotheriidae |
| Subfamily: | †Anisolambdinae |
| Genus: | †Wainka Simpson 1935 |
| Type species | |
| †Wainka tshotshe Simpson, 1935 | |
| Species | |
| |
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Wainka is anextinctgenus ofSouth Americanmammal, belonging to the orderLitopterna. It lived during the MiddlePaleocene.
This animal is only known for a few teeth. The upper molars were almost triangular in shape, elongated, and possessed a rather massive paracone and metacone, more developed than other contemporary South American ungulates such asAnisolambda ; the upper molars were devoid of mesostyle.
With some doubts,Wainka has also been attributed a lower molar with well-marked ridges.
Wainka tshotshe was first described in 1935 byGeorge Gaylord Simpson, based on an upper and lower molar, the latter of dubious attribution, from the Middle Paleocene ofCerro Redondo,Argentina. This animal has been attributed to various families of South American ungulates, such as theNotonychopidae andProterotheriidae. Regardless,Wainka was a basal form and it is very likely that it was an early litoptern. Its real affinities are still unclear. Other litopterns from approximately the same age areNotonychops andRequisia.
