Pseudotypotherium

Pseudotypotherium is an extinct genus of Notoungulates, belonging to the suborder Typotheria. It lived from the Late Miocene to the Late Pliocene, and its fossilized remains were discovered in South America.

Description
This animal, like all the typotheres, was superficially similar to a rodent. It was close to the size of a sheep, and Pseudotypotherium is considered as one of the largest known Typotheres. It is known from several skeletons and skulls, and it is therefore possible to reconstruct faithfully its appearance.

Classification
The genus Pseudotypotherium was first described in 1904 by Florentino Ameghino, based on fossil remains found in Argentina in Late Pliocene terrains. Among the best known species is the type species P. pulchrum, from the Late Pliocene, and the older species P. subinsigne and P. carhuense from the Late Miocene. Fossils attributed to the genus have also been found in Bolivia.

Pseudotypotherium was a typical member of Typotheria, a clade of notoungulates which, during their evolution, independently developed several anatomical characteristics similar to those of rodents, probably occupying numerous ecological niches only occupied by rodents on the other continents. Pseudotypotherium was a member of the family Mesotheriidae, which included some of the most specialized typotheres.