Toxodonta

From Freepedia

Toxodonta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Toxodonta

Toxodonts represent the largest examples of Notoungulate evolution. The group is named after Toxodon, the first example of the group to be discovered. Scientists believe the Toxodonts first appeared during the Miocene in the form of Nesodon, a medium sized Toxodont which had converted it's second upper incisor teeth into tusks. Toxodon itself evolved during the Pliocene alongside the related Trigodon, an equally large mammal which posessed a horn projecting from it's forehead, in the same way as a modern day rhinoceros. Toxodon was a huge creature about the size of a modern day Black Rhino, it was a herbivore and possesed 4 toes on each hoof. Other Toxodons include Proadinotherium which existed during the Oligocene and evolved from Nesodon and Oldfieldthomasia which evolved from Proadinotherium during the Lower Eocene before finnaly evolving into Toxodon.

Related to the Toxodonts are two poorly known families the Leontiniidae of the Oligocene and the Notohippidae. The last surviving Leontiniid was Colphodon from the Upper Oligocene which was medium sized but heavily built. At present all that is known of the Notohippidons is that they possesed molar teeth that were superficially like those of modern day horses, however their appearence remains uncertain.



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