Schizotheriinae Temporal range: 34–0.781 Ma Late Miocene to Early |
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Moropus elatus at the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Perissodactyla |
Suborder: | †Ancylopoda |
Superfamily: | †Chalicotherioidea |
Family: | †Chalicotheriidae |
Subfamily: |
†Schizotheriinae Holland and Peterson, 1914 |
Genera | |
†Ancylotherium |
†Ancylotherium
†Borissiakia
†Chemositia
†Metaschizotherium
†Moropus
†Nestoritherium
†Phyllotillon
†Schizotherium
†Tylocephalonyx
Schizotheriines make up an extinct clade of the family Chalicotheriidae, a group of herbivorous, odd-toed ungulate (perissodactyl) mammals. Unlike the gorilla-like proportions of other chalicotheres, schizotheriines had smaller body proportions, closer to those of Moropus. Analysis of dental microwear implies most Miocene Schizotheriinae fed on leaves, bark, and twigs. Their claws were most likely used in a hook-like manner to pull down branches, suggesting they lived as bipedal browsers. They are related to the modern horse, rhino, and tapir.