Metaschizotherium
Temporal range: Early - Mid Miocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: †Chalicotheriidae
Subfamily: †Schizotheriinae
Genus: †Metaschizotherium
von Koenigswald, 1932
Type species
†Metaschizotherium fraasi
Marsh, 1877
Species
  • M. bavaricum von Koenigswald 1932
  • M. fraasi
  • M. wetzleri Kowalewsky 1873

Metaschizotherium is an extinct genus that belongs to the family Chalicotheriidae, which was a group of herbivorous perissodactyl ("odd-toed") mammals. Though found primarily in Europe, fragmentary remains suggest that their range extended into Asia.

Several other species have been described under Metaschizotherium in the past, including the African M. transvaalensis, but they have been transferred to other genera, such as Ancylotherium. The entire genus has been considered synonymous with Ancylotherium in the past, but nowadays the two are generally found to be distinct.[1]

This genus is typically associated with areas of closed, moist forest, where it fed on relatively soft leaves and shoots compared to a more abrasive diet of twigs and bark.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Werdelin, Lars; Sanders, William Joseph (2010). Cenozoic Mammals of Africa. University of California Press. p. 665. ISBN 9780520257214.
  2. ↑ Coombs, Margery C. (13 Feb 2009). "The chalicothere Metaschizotherium bavaricum (Perissodactyla, Chalicotheriidae, Schizotheriinae) from the Miocene (MN5) Lagerstatte of Sandelzhausen (Germany): description, comparison, and paleoecological significance" (PDF). Paläontologische Zeitschrift. Springer Berlin / Heidelberg. 83 (1): 85–129. doi:10.1007/s12542-009-0004-x. S2CID 140194075.


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