From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Notoungulates are an extinct order of hoofed mammals that were native in South America. The order includes the huge Toxodon. Due to the isolated nature of South America many Notoungulates evolved along the lines of Convergent Evolution and as a result many Notoungulates evolved into forms that resembled many old world mammals. Examples of this are Pachyrukhos, a Notoungulate that evolved to fill the role of rabbits and hares and Homalodotherium which evolved to resemble chalicotheres. During the Pleistocene Toxodon was the largest common Notoungulate. Most of the group became extinct after the landbridge between North and South America was formed allowing similar mammals to enter South America, out-compete the native fauna and ultimately cause the extinction of the Notoungulates. This order is united with other South-American ungulates in the super-order Meridiungulata.
