Metaschizotherium Temporal range: Early to Middle Miocene |
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Fossil
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Perissodactyla |
Superfamily: | †Chalicotherioidea |
Family: | †Chalicotheriidae |
Subfamily: | †Schizotheriinae |
Genus: |
†Metaschizotherium von Koenigswald, 1932 |
Species | |
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Metaschizotherium is an extinct genus that belongs to the family Chalicotheriidae, which was a group of herbivorous perissodactyl ("odd-toed") mammals. Though found primarily in Europe, fragmentary remains suggest that their range extended into Asia. This genus is typically associated with areas of closed, moist forest, where it fed on relatively soft leaves and shoots compared to a more abrasive diet of twigs and bark.
Metaschizotherium is related to the modern horse, rhino, and tapir.