Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Thoatherium

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Class
  
Mammalia

Family
  
†Proterotheriidae

Phylum
  
Chordata

Order
  
†Litopterna

Rank
  
Genus

Thoatherium

Similar
  
Diadiaphorus, Proterotheriidae, Litopterna, Theosodon, Macraucheniidae

Thoatherium (meaning "active swift-beast") is an extinct genus of litoptern mammal from the early Miocene of 20 Ma.

With a length of 70 centimetres (2.3 ft), the gazelle-like Thoatherium was the smallest representative of the order Litopterna. Judging from its long legs, it was a fast runner. Thoatherium had remarkably reduced toes; only one horse-like hoof remained. Thoatherium even lacked splint bones, which are remnants of the second and fourth toe found in modern horses. Judging from its generalised teeth, Thoatherium fed on soft leaves rather than on tough grasses.

References

Thoatherium Wikipedia