| Eotypotherium | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Notoungulata |
| Family: | †Mesotheriidae |
| Genus: | †Eotypotherium Croft, Flynn & Wyss, 2004 |
| Species: | †E. chico |
| Binomial name | |
| †Eotypotherium chico Croft, Flynn & Wyss, 2004 | |
Eotypotherium is anextinctgenus ofmammal, belonging to the suborderTypotheria. It lived during the EarlyMiocene. Its fossilized remains were discovered in theChucal Formation, in theChileanaltiplano, near theSalar de Surire, inSouth America.[1]
The nameEotypotherium is composed of thegreek prefix "Eo-", meaning "dawn", and of the suffix "-typotherium", an invalid name for the genusMesotherium, which gave its name to the suborderTypotheria. This name was given due to the relative antiquity of this taxon compared to otherMesotheriidae.[1]
The genus is known from various remains of small-sized skulls, with the notable absence of a well-developed zygomatic plate. The first upperincisor presents a groove in its lingual part.[1]
Theholotype,SGOPV 5157, held by theChilean National Museum of Natural History inSantiago de Chile, includes the right half of a face, with the maxilla and the right zygomatic arch.[1]
