Rhynchippus
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Rhynchippus |
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Rhynchippus equinus with Pyrotherium romeroi
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Extinct (fossil)
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Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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Rhynchippus is an extinct genus of xenungulate mammal.
Although its teeth were extremely similar to those of horses or rhinos, Rhynchippus was actually a relative of Toxodon, having developed a horse-like form through convergent evolution. The 1 m (3 ft 4 in) long creature used these to graze. Unlike its relatives Rhynchippus had no large tusks; they were the same size and shape as the incisors. Enamel on the molars allowed it to chew tough food.