| Scarrittia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| S. canquelensis fossil | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Notoungulata |
| Family: | †Leontiniidae |
| Genus: | †Scarrittia Simpson 1934 |
| Type species | |
| †Scarrittia canquelensis Simpson 1934 | |
| Species | |
| |
Scarrittia is an extinctgenus of hoofed mammal of the familyLeontiniidae, native to South America during theLate Oligocene epoch (Deseadan in theSALMA classification).
Scarrittia was about 2 metres (6.6 ft) in body length, and resembled a rhinoceros with a relatively long body and neck. It had three hoofed toes on each foot, and a very short tail. Due to a fusedtibia andfibula,Scarrittia would have been unable to turn its legs sideways. The shortskull had 44 poorly specializedteeth.[1]
This was a very successful genus with various known species, such asScarrittia robusta,S. barranquensis andS. canquelensis, which lived around 30 million years ago. They lived in moist forest, near the coast, in wetlands, lakes, swamps, etc. and they ate soft vegetation, grasses, fruits and trees. Some species were omnivorous, eating also eggs and small mammals. They were not adapted for running, though their large size meant they had few enemies.[citation needed]
Fossils ofScarrittia have been found in:[2]
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