Chalicothere

From Freepedia

Chalicotheriidae
Conservation status: Fossil
Image:Moropus.jpg
Moropus elatus at the
National Museum of Natural History,
Washington, DC
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Perissodactyla
Family:Chalicotheriidae

Chalicotheres were a group of perissodactyl mammals that lived from 45 to 3.5 million years ago. They were related to horses, rhinoceroses and tapirs. Unlike modern perissodactyls, they had long forelimbs and short hind limbs. They did not have front teeth, which means they could eat fresh leaves only. On their front legs they had long, curving claws which they probably used to grasp leaves from trees.




Views
Personal tools
Similar Links