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Chalicotheres (from Greek chalix, gravel + therion, beast) were a group of perissodactyl mammals that evolved in the mid Eocene around 40 million years ago from small, forest animals similar to the early horses. By the late Oligocene, chalicotheres had divided into two groups: one that grazed in open areas and another that was more adapted to woodlands. They died out around 3.5 million years ago, and are related to the extinct brontotheres, as well as modern day horses, rhinoceroses, and tapirs.
Description Unlike modern perissodactyls, chalicotheres had long forelimbs and short hind limbs. Consequently, Chalicotheres probably moved with most of their weight on their short, strong hind legs. Their front legs had long, curved claws which meant they probably walked on their knuckles. Fossil remains have shown thick, developed front knuckles, much like those on gorillas today. The chalicotheres probably used their claws to strip vegetation from trees and to forage for food. Chalicotheres did not have front teeth, and their back teeth show little wear, suggesting that they probably were picky-eaters that only ate fresh leaves. The chalicotheres height when resting was 2.6 meters (eight and half feet) for males and 1.8 meters (almost six feet) for females. Fossils Fossils of a knuckle-walking chalicothere called Chalicotherium are found in the late Oligocene in Asia. The chalicothere Moropus is found in the Miocene in North America, and the chalicothere Ancylotherium is found in Africa. Cryptozoology Some cryptozoologists say that the cryptid from Africa called Nandi bear is actually a chalicothere. See also | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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