Homalodotherium

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Homalodotherium
Fossil range: early to middle Miocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Notoungulata
Suborder: Toxodonta
Family: Homalodotheriidae
Genus: Homalodotherium
Huxley, 1870

Homalodotherium is an extinct genus of mammal.

The 2 m (6 ft 8 in) long creature had long forelimbs with claws instead of hooves. Homalodotherium walked on the soles of its hind feet and the toes of its front feet. Based on this, paleontologists have concluded it was semi-bipedal. It probably pulled down tree branches with its arms while reared up on its hind legs, feeding on the leaves. Various other prehistoric and living creatures have also developed this feeding style; examples are the chalicotheres, ground sloths, giant panda and (possibly) therizinosaur dinosaurs.

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