Gobiatherium
| Gobiatherium Temporal range: Middle Eocene
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|---|---|
| Life Restoration | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Dinocerata |
| Family: | †Uintatheriidae |
| Subfamily: | †Gobiatheriinae Flerov, 1952 |
| Genus: | †Gobiatherium Osborn & Granger, 1932 |
| Species | |
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Gobiatherium (from Gobi Desert, and Ancient Greek θηρίον (thēríon), meaning "beast") was one of the last uintatheriids, from the Mid Eocene of Mongolia.[1]
Description
Unlike its North American cousins, Uintatherium or Eobasileus, Gobiatherium lacked knob-like horns, or even fang-like tusks. Instead, it had enlarged cheekbones and an almost spherical snout. The dental formula of the genus is 0.0.3.33.1.3.3. The lower incisors were bilobed, and the genus lacks upper canines all together.[2] The lower canines are reduced, and the lower jaw is shallow.[3][4][5][6]
Classification
Because of the noticeable lack of many diagnostic uintathere features, the genus is placed within its own subfamily, Gobiatheriinae, within Uintatheriidae.[2][4][6] Historically, Gobiatherium was grouped within its own family, Gobiatheriidae, alongside Uintatheriidae and Prodinoceratiidae, though this is not supported.[6]
References
- ^ "Mindat.org". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
- ^ a b Granger, Walter; Osborn, Henry Fairfield. "Coryphodonts and uintatheres from the Mongolian Expedition of 1930. American Museum novitates ; no. 552". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
- ^ Lucas, Spencer G. (2001-02-01). "Gobiatherium (Mammalia: Dinocerata) from the Middle Eocene of Asia: Taxonomy and biochronological significance". Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 74 (4): 591–600. doi:10.1007/BF02988166.
- ^ a b Shoch, Robert M.; Lucas, Spencer G. "The phylogeny and classification of the Dinocerata (Mammalia, Eutheria)" (PDF). Bulletin of the Geological Institutions of the University of Uppsala. 11: 31–58.
- ^ The new mammalian materials from the Eocene of Liguanqiao Basin. 1990.
- ^ a b c Wheeler, Walter (1961-01-01). "Revision of the uintatheres". Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History (14).