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Embolotherium
*** Shopping-Tip: Embolotherium
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = ''Embolotherium''
| regnum =
Animal Animalia
| phylum =
Chordata
| classis =
Mammalia
| ordo =
Perissodactyla
| familia =
Brontotheriidae
| genus = '''''Embolotherium'''''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See Text
}}
'''''Embolotherium''''' ('battering ram beast') is an extinct
genus of
Brontotheriidae brontothere that lived in
Mongolia during the late
Eocene period. It is most easily recognized by a large bony protuberance emanating from the anterior (front) end of the skull. This process resembles a
battering ram, thus providing the reason for the name ''Embolotherium''. The animal is known from about 12
skulls, several
jaws, and a variety of other skeletal elements from the
Ulan Gochu formation of
Inner Mongolia and the
Irgilin Dzo of
Outer Mongolia.
Complete skeletons of ''Embolotherium'' have not yet been recovered, but it was probably about 2.5 meters tall at the shoulder. There is no clear evidence that ''Embolotherium'' was
sexual dimorphism sexually dimorphic. All known specimens have large rams and rather small canines. Therefore, it does not seem likely that the ram served as a weapon for contests between males. Rather, it might have had a non-sexual function. The ram may have served as a specialized structure for sound production. This hypothesis is suggested by the fact that the bony
nasal cavity extends to the peak of the ram, thus implying that the nasal chamber was greatly elevated, possibly creating a resonating chamber.
Several
species of ''Embolotherium'' have been named, including ''Embolotherium andrewsi'', ''Embolotherium grangeri'', ''Embolotherium louksi'', ''Embolotherium ultimum'', ''Embolotherium ergilensi'', and ''Embolotherium efremovi''. However, only two species, ''Embolotherium andrewsi'' and ''Embolotherium grangeri'', appear to be valid. Other supposed species of ''Embolotherium'' are probably synonymous with these two species and were originally based on juvenile skulls, poorly preserved fossil material, or specimens that are not significantly different from either ''E. andrewsi'' or ''E. grangeri''.
Another genus of brontothere, ''
Titanodectes'', which was named for several lower jaws found in the same sedimentary deposits as ''Embolotherium'', probably represents the same beast as ''Embolotherium grangeri''. ''
Protembolotherium'' is another closely related genus of brontothere.
External links
-
BBC Online
-
Fact File description
{{Wikispecies|Brontotheriidae}}
{{Mammals}}
Category:Odd-toed ungulates
Category:Brontotheres
Category:Eocene mammals
Category:Eocene extinctions
*** Shopping-Tip: Embolotherium
