Toxodon

Toxodon (Toxodon Owen, 1837)

Order: Notoungulata

Family:Toxodontidae

Temporal range: during the late Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs (South  America)

Dimensions: length - 3,2 m, height - 175 сm, weight - 1500 kg

Typical representative: Toxodon platensis Owen, 1837

Toxodon is an extinct mammal of the late Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs about 2.6 million to 16.500 years ago. It was indigenous to South America, and was probably the most common large-hoofed mammal in South America at the time of its existence.

Toxodon was about 2.7 metres  in body length, with an estimated weight up to 1500 kg and about 1.5 metres high at the shoulder and resembled a heavy rhinoceros, with a short and vaguely hippopotamus-like head. Because of the position of its nasal openings, it is believed that Toxodon had a well-developed snout. It had a massive skeleton, which suggests that it supported a large muscular body. It had short stout legs with three functional toes, with most of the body weight being borne by the central toe. Toxodon would have had a very unusual gait, due to its peculiar proportions. It may have galloped to escape predators, but like a rhino, it probably relied more on its size as protection against predators.