Toxodon

Toxodon (from Ancient Greek τόξον (tóxon), meaning "bow", and ὀδούς (odoús), meaning "tooth", in reference to the curvature of the teeth) is an extinct genus of large ungulate native to South America from the Pliocene to the end of the Late Pleistocene. Toxodon is a member of Notoungulata, an order of extinct South American native ungulates distinct from the two living ungulate orders that had been indigenous to the continent for over 60 million years since the early Cenozoic, prior to the arrival of living ungulates into South America around 2.5 million years ago during the Great American Interchange. Toxodon is a member of the family Toxodontidae, which includes medium to large sized herbivores. Toxodon was one of the largest members of Toxodontidae and Notoungulata, with Toxodon platensis having an estimated body mass of 1,000–1,200 kilograms (2,200–2,600 lb). Remains of Toxodon were first collected by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the Beagle in 1832-33, and later scientifically named by Richard Owen in 1837. Both Darwin and Owen were puzzled by Toxodon's unusual anatomical features, including its long, ever-growing cheek teeth. Toxodon has been found across much of South America, excluding southern Patagonia, the Andes and the northwestern-most region of the continent, inhabiting steppe, savanna and sometimes woodland habitats. It was one of several genera of toxodontids living during the Pleistocene also including Trigonodops, Mixotoxodon (which ranged as far north as the southern United States) and possibly Piauhytherium. Evidence suggests that Toxodon was ecologically plastic and able to adapt its diet to local conditions. While some authors have suggested that Toxodon was semiaquatic, isotopic analysis has supported a terrestrial lifestyle. Toxodon became extinct as part of the end-Pleistocene extinction event around 12,000 years ago, along with most large mammals across the Americas. The extinctions followed the arrival of humans to...