Anoplotheriidae
Skull of Anoplotherium commune
The Anoplotheriidae are an extinct family of even-toed ungulate ( Artiodactyla ). The animals were confined to Europe and lived in the Eocene and Oligocene.
Etymology
The Anoplotheriidae family, a neologism from the Greek with the meaning unarmed animals, was named after the type genus Anoplotherium.
History
Anoplotherium, the first, in 1804 discovered in the gypsum quarries of Montmartre in Paris Anoplotheriide was described by Georges Cuvier scientifically. The Anoplotheriidae family was erected in 1821 by John Edward Gray, but it was made in error by him to the rhinos. Edward Drinker Cope in 1889 recognized their allegiance to the ungulates. Your correct assignment to the Tylopoda ( calluses Ohlern ) took place only in 1960 by Alfred Sherwood Romer, 1988 by Robert L. Carroll and 2007 by JJ Hooker.
Description
Anoplotheriidae were quite large, land-living herbivores. They formed a very original, selenodonte family within the Artiodactyla. Their characteristic features are in addition to the Selenodontie four toes in the back - and five toes in the forefoot. Radius and ulna were not fused together and metacarpal and metatarsal bones were free to move. The eye socket was in the back is not completely closed and the mastoid process of the temporal bone came out sideways.
Another feature is their very strong tail, which enabled them in conjunction with other anatomical features, to sit up on their hind legs to reach leaves and so food still about 2 meters in height.
Family relations
The Anoplotheriidae were united by Jean Sudre, 1977, together with the family of Cainotheriidae to the superfamily of Anoplotheroidea. The family is divided into three subfamilies:
- Anoplotheriinae with the taxa Anoplotherium
- Deilotherium
- Diplobune
- Duerotherium
- Ephelcomenus
- Robiatherium
- Catodontherium
- Dacrytherium
- Leptotheridium
- Tapirulus
- Robiacina
Carroll still leads to the taxa Diplartiopus and Hyracodontherium, the latter genus is now regarded as a synonym of Diplobune. Diploartiopus is described by Paul Ellenberger trace fossil from southeastern France.
Occurrence
The findings of Anoplotheriiden are limited to Europe. They occur in the following countries:
- Belgium - Belgian Basin ( Hoogbutsel at Boutersem )
- Germany - Ronheim, Frohnstetten ( fissure fillings in the Jura )
- England - Hampshire Basin ( Bembridge Limestone Formation, Bouldnor lineup, Headon Hill Formation - all Isle of Wight )
- France - Aquitanisches pool ( in the phosphorites of Quercy in Aubrelong, Coanac, Le Bretou, Les Pradigues, Perrière, Sainte- Néboule, Sindou and others in the southern Dordogne - Sainte- Capraise d' Eymet, in Castres Basin - Pont d ' Assou and many others), the Paris Basin ( Montmartre, Rosières ), Provence ( Saint- Saturnin- d'Apt - La Debruge ), Pyrenean foreland ( Mas -Saintes - Puelles at Castelnaudary )
- Italy - in the lignites from Cadibona Pass
- Portugal - Beira Alta Basin ( Côja in Coimbra )
- Switzerland - Egerkingen, Mormont / Eclépens, Mormont / Entreroches ( fissure fillings in the Jura )
- Spain - Almazan Basin ( Mazaterón ), Duero Basin ( Caenes ), Pyrenees - Grauss - Tremp Basin ( Roc de Santa at the Noguera Pallaresa and Sossis )
Timeframe
The Anoplotheriidae first emerged on at the turn of the lower Eocene / Middle Eocene ( Ypresium / lutetium ) when the land mammal zone MP11 and the beginning of Geiseltaliums. Your last representative died in the Upper Oligocene ( Chattian ) towards the end of the land mammal zone MP26 in Arvernium from. The family thus survived the period 48,6 bis 25.6 million years BP.