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| Pseudotypotherium | |
|---|---|
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| Left mandible ofPseudotypotherium | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Notoungulata |
| Family: | †Mesotheriidae |
| Subfamily: | †Mesotheriinae |
| Genus: | †Pseudotypotherium Ameghino 1904 |
| Type species | |
| †Pseudotypotherium pulchrum Ameghino, 1904 | |
| Species | |
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Pseudotypotherium is anextinctgenus ofnotoungulates, belonging to the suborderTypotheria. It lived from the LateMiocene to the LatePliocene, and its fossilized remains were discovered inSouth America.
This animal, like all the typotheres, was superficially similar to arodent. It was close to the size of asheep, andPseudotypotherium is considered as one of the largest known typotheres. It is known from several skeletons and skulls, and it is therefore possible to reconstruct faithfully its appearance.
The genusPseudotypotherium was first described in 1904 byFlorentino Ameghino, based on fossil remains found inArgentina in Late Pliocene terrains. Among the best known species is the type speciesP. pulchrum, from the Late Pliocene, and the older speciesP. subinsigne andP. carhuense from the Late Miocene. Fossils attributed to the genus have also been found inBolivia.
Pseudotypotherium was a typical member ofTypotheria, a clade of notoungulates which, during their evolution, independently developed several anatomical characteristics similar to those ofrodents, probably occupying numerous ecological niches only occupied by rodents on the other continents.Pseudotypotherium was a member of the family Mesotheriidae, which included some of the most specialized typotheres.
