• Source: Litopterna

Litopterna (from Ancient Greek: λῑτή πτέρνα "smooth heel") is an extinct order of South American native ungulates that lived from the Paleocene to the end of the Pleistocene-early Holocene around 62.5 million-12,000 years ago, and were also present in Antarctica during the Eocene. They represent the second most diverse group of South American ungulates after Notoungulata. It is divided into nine families, with Proterotheriidae and Macraucheniidae being the most diverse and last surviving families.




Diversity



The body forms of many litopterns, notably in the limb and skull structure, are broadly similar to those of living ungulates, unlike other South American native ungulate groups, which are often strongly divergent from living ungulates. Paleocene and Eocene litopterns generally had small body masses, with Protolipterna (Protolipternidae) estimated to have had a body mass of 0.5–1.5 kilograms (1.1–3.3 lb), though the Eocene sparnotheriodontids were considerably larger, with estimated body masses of around 400 kilograms (880 lb). Most proterotheriids had body masses of around 15 to 80 kilograms (33 to 176 lb) while many macraucheniids had body masses of around 80–120 kilograms (180–260 lb). Some of the last macraucheniids like Macrauchenia were considerably larger, with body masses around a ton. Adianthidae generally had small body masses, with members of the genus Adianthus estimated to weigh 7.4–20 kilograms (16–44 lb). Members of the proterotheriid subfamily Megadolodinae are noted for having bunodont (rounded cusp) molar teeth, which is largely unique to litopterns among South American native ungulates. Litopterns of the mid-late Cenozoic had hinge-like limb joints and hooves similar to those of modern ungulates, with the weight being supported on three toes in macraucheniids and one in proterotheriids, with the protherotheriid Thoatherium developing greater toe reduction than that present in living horses. Macraucheniids had long necks and limbs.
Members of the macraucheniid subfamily Macraucheniinae saw the progressive migration of the nasal opening to the top of the skull, which was often historically suggested to indicate the presence of a trunk, though other authors have suggested that a moose-like prehensile lip, or a saiga-like nose to filter dust are more likely.




Ecology


Litopterns were likely hindgut fermenters. At least some macraucheniids like Macrauchenia are suggested to have been mixed feeders feeding on both browse and grass. Sparnotheriodontids are suggested to have been browsers. Some proterotheriids are suggested to have been browsers, while some members proterotheriid subfamily Megadolodinae like Megadolodus have been suggested to have been omnivorous with at least part of their diet consisting of hard fruit.




Evolutionary history


Litopterna, like other "South American native ungulates" is thought to have originated from groups of archaic "condylarths" that migrated from North America. Sequencing of the collagen proteome and mitochondrial genome of Macrauchenia has revealed that litopterns are true ungulates, sharing a common ancestor with Notoungulata, and with their closest living relatives being Perissodactyla (the group containing living equines, rhinoceros and tapirs) as part of the clade Panperissodactyla, with the split from Perissodactyla being estimated at around 66 million years ago. The relationship of Litopterna to other South American native ungulate groups is uncertain, though it may be closely related to the "condylarth" group Didolodontidae. The earliest litopterns appeared during the early Paleocene, around 62.5 million years ago.
Aside from South America, sparnotheriodontids are also known from the Eocene aged La Meseta Formation in the Antarctic Peninsula, representing the only record of litopterns on the Antarctic continent. Litopterns declined during the Pliocene and Pleistocene, likely as a result of climatic change and competition with recently immigrated North American ungulates who arrived as part of the Great American interchange, following the connection of the previously isolated North and South America via the Isthmus of Panama. Macrauchenia, Xenorhinotherium (Macraucheniidae) and Neolicaphrium (Proterotheriidae) were the last surviving genera of litopterns. All became extinct at the end of the Late Pleistocene around 12,000 years ago as part of the end-Pleistocene extinction event, along with most other large mammals in the Americas, co-inciding with the arrival of the first humans to the continent. It is possible that hunting had a causal role in their extinction.




Classification



Order Litopterna
Proacrodon
Family Protolipternidae
Asmithwoodwardia
Miguelsoria
Protolipterna
Family Indaleciidae
Adiantoides
Indalecia
Family Sparnotheriodontidae
Phoradiadius
Notiolofos
Sparnotheriodon
Victorlemoinea
Family Amilnedwardsiidae
Amilnedwardsia
Ernestohaeckelia
Rutimeyeria
Family Notonychopidae
Notonychops
Requisia
Superfamily Macrauchenioidea
Family Adianthidae
Proectocion
Adianthinae
Adianthus
Proadiantus
Proheptaconus
Thadanius
Tricoelodus
Family Macraucheniidae
Llullataruca
Subfamily Cramaucheniinae
Coniopternium
Caliphrium
Cramauchenia
Phoenixauchenia
Polymorphis
Pternoconius
Theosodon
Subfamily Macraucheniinae
Cullinia
Huayqueriana
Macrauchenia
Macraucheniopsis
Oxyodontherium
Paranauchenia
Promacrauchenia
Scalabrinitherium
Windhausenia
Xenorhinotherium
Superfamily Proterotherioidea
Family Proterotheriidae
Anisolambda
Anisolophus
Brachytherium
Diadiaphorus
Diplasiotherium
Eoauchenia
Eolicaphrium
Epecuenia
Epitherium
Guilielmofloweria
Heteroglyphis
Lambdaconus
Lambdaconops
Mesolicaphrium
Neobrachytherium
Neodolodus
Neolicaphrium
Olisanophus
Paramacrauchenia
Paranisolambda
Picturotherium
Prolicaphrium
Promylophis
Proterotherium
Protheosodon
Pseudobrachytherium
Tetramerorhinus
Thoatherium
Thoatheriopsis
Villarroelia
Uruguayodon
Wainka
Xesmodon
Megadolodinae
Bounodus
Megadolodus




References






Further reading


McKenna, Malcolm C; Bell, Susane K (1997). Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-11013-6.




External links



An artist's rendition of a Macrauchenia, a representative genus of the Litopterna. Retrieved from the Red Académica Uruguaya megafauna page

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Antarktika
• Ungulata
• Litopterna
• Macrauchenia
• Proterotheriidae
• Panperissodactyla
• Theosodon
• Xenorhinotherium
• Ungulate
• Macraucheniidae
• Perissodactyla
• South American native ungulates