Scarrittia
{{Short description|Extinct genus of notoungulates}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = Late Oligocene (Deseadan)
~{{fossil range|28.4|23.03}}
| image = Scarrittia canquelensis 43.jpg
| image_caption = S. canquelensis fossil
| taxon = Scarrittia
| authority = Simpson 1934
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
- S. barranquensis {{small|Ribeiro et al. 2010}}
- S. canquelensis {{small|Simpson 1934}}
- S. robusta {{small|Ubilla et al. 1994}}
| type_species = †Scarrittia canquelensis
| type_species_authority = Simpson 1934
}}
Scarrittia is an extinct genus of hoofed mammal of the family Leontiniidae, native to South America during the Late Oligocene epoch (Deseadan in the SALMA classification).
Description
File:Scarrittia Leontinidae-Meridiungulata.png
Scarrittia was about {{convert|2|m|ft}} in body length, and resembled a rhinoceros with a relatively long body and neck. It had three hoofed toes on each foot, and a very short tail. Due to a fused tibia and fibula, Scarrittia would have been unable to turn its legs sideways. The short skull had 44 poorly specialized teeth.{{cite book |editor=Palmer, D.|year=1999 |title= The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals|publisher= Marshall Editions|location=London|page= 252|isbn= 1-84028-152-9}}
Natural history
This was a very successful genus with various known species, such as Scarrittia robusta, S. barranquensis and S. canquelensis, which lived around 30 million years ago. They lived in moist forest, near the coast, in wetlands, lakes, swamps, etc. and they ate soft vegetation, grasses, fruits and trees. Some species were omnivorous, eating also eggs and small mammals. They were not adapted for running, though their large size meant they had few enemies.{{cn|date=March 2025}}
Distribution
References
{{Portal|Paleontology}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Meridiungulata|N.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q369014}}
Category:Oligocene mammals of South America
Category:Fossil taxa described in 1934
Category:Taxa named by George Gaylord Simpson
Category:Prehistoric placental genera
Category:Golfo San Jorge Basin
Category:Fray Bentos Formation
{{notoungulate-stub}}