Thoatherium

Thoatherium is a genus of extinct, herbivorous mammals that lived during the Miocene epoch, approximately 23 to 5.3 million years ago. They are known from fossils found in North America, particularly in the western United States. Thoatherium is characterized by its large size, robust build, and distinctive dental structure. The genus includes several species, with Thoatherium gigas being one of the largest known members, reaching lengths of up to 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) and weighing over 1.5 tons.

The name Thoatherium is derived from the Greek words "thoas," meaning "tooth," and "therion," meaning "beast," reflecting the genus' prominent dental features. Thoatherium had a unique dental structure with large, flat molars adapted for grinding tough plant material. This adaptation, along with its robust jaw muscles, suggests that Thoatherium was well-suited for browsing on low-growing vegetation.

Thoatherium is believed to have been a grazer, feeding on grasses and other low-growing plants. Its large size and robust build indicate that it was a powerful and agile animal, capable of navigating through various habitats. The genus is considered to be closely related to other Miocene mammals, such as the brontotheres and the teleocerates.

Despite its large size and robust features, Thoatherium is not considered to be a direct ancestor of modern elephants or rhinoceroses. Instead, it is thought to have been an evolutionary dead end, with no known descendants. The extinction of Thoatherium is believed to have been caused by a combination of factors, including climate change and competition with other herbivores.