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Mesotherium
''Mesotherium'' ("Middle Beast") is an extinct genus of mesotheriid, a long-lasting family of superficially rodent-like, burrowing notoungulates from South America. It one of the youngest notoungulates, and the last known member of Typotheria. It was first named by Étienne Serres in 1867, and through further finds now contains four species, ''M. cristatum'', ''M. hystatum'', ''M. maendrum'', and ''M. pachygnathum''. Fossils have been found in Argentina, dating to the Early-Middle Pleistocene. Etymology Serres named ''Mesotherium'' so due to his belief that it was an intermediate between rodents and pachyderms (or ungulates), due to its large upper incisors, and its size and proportions. "Serres—by a happy inspiration proposed calling it Mesotherium—as being a common centre towards which all mammalia got happily confounded," Hugh Falconer wrote Darwin in April 1863. "Bravard sent it home under the name of Typotherium as being the central type from which all mammals diverged ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mesotherium Cristatum
''Mesotherium'' ("Middle Beast") is an extinct genus of Mesotheriidae, mesotheriid, a long-lasting family (biology), family of superficially rodent-like, burrowing notoungulates from South America. It one of the youngest notoungulates, and the last known member of Typotheria. It was first named by Étienne Serres in 1867, and through further finds now contains four species, ''M. cristatum'', ''M. hystatum'', ''M. maendrum'', and ''M. pachygnathum''. Fossils have been found in Argentina, dating to the Early Pleistocene, Early-Middle Pleistocene. Etymology Serres named ''Mesotherium'' so due to his belief that it was an intermediate between rodents and pachyderms (or ungulates), due to its large upper incisors, and its size and proportions. "Serres—by a happy inspiration proposed calling it Mesotherium—as being a common centre towards which all mammalia got happily confounded," Hugh Falconer wrote Darwin in April 1863. "Bravard sent it home under the name of Typotherium as bei ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
