Granastrapotherium
Encyclopedia
Granastrapotherium is a genus
of extinct ungulate
mammal described from remains found in rocks of the Honda Group in the desert of Tatacoa in the departments of Huila and Tolima
, in Colombia
which comprise the fossil site of La Venta
, where they surfaced several Miocene
vertebrate remains. The only species formally recognized is Granastrapotherium snorki (the generic name adds the Spanish
word gran -"great"- to the existing name Astrapotherium, which in turn means "lightning beast", while the specific name adds the English word snorkel, breathing tube, in reference to his trunk). Remains found in Venezuela
, Bolivia
and Peru
, seem to belong to Granastrapotherium or a very similar animal.
This astrapothere
differs from it coeval, the uruguaytheriine astrapotheriid Xenastrapotherium
by their larger size, between 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes, with tusk
s up to one meter in length, making it the largest representative of Astrapotheria. Other differences include the presence of only one premolar
, the lack of incisors in both jaws and the disposition of the canine tooth
, which are very large and horizontal, so remember much less than those of hippo
s and more to the tusks of some ancient relatives of elephants (as Palaeomastodon
), although the defenses in elephant
s and their relatives are not formed by the canines but the incisors. Similarly, the nostrils appear skull extremely withdrawn in the skull and are large, so this creature had to have a larger trunk
than other astrapotheres; probably, like elephants, this animal using his muscular proboscis
together with their tusks to approach the vegetation and cut (which would be mostly leaves of trees and shrubs) for feeding.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of extinct ungulate
Ungulate
Ungulates are several groups of mammals, most of which use the tips of their toes, usually hoofed, to sustain their whole body weight while moving. They make up several orders of mammals, of which six to eight survive...
mammal described from remains found in rocks of the Honda Group in the desert of Tatacoa in the departments of Huila and Tolima
Department of Tolima
Tolima is one of the 32 departments of Colombia, located in the Andean region, in the center-west of the country. It is bordered on the north and the west by the department of Caldas; on the east by the department of Cundinamarca; on the south by the department of Huila, and on the west by the...
, in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
which comprise the fossil site of La Venta
La Venta (Colombia)
La Venta is a settlement between the modern Tolima Department and Huila Department, Colombia. Nearby, one of the richest Neogene fossil assemblages in the whole of South America is known...
, where they surfaced several Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
vertebrate remains. The only species formally recognized is Granastrapotherium snorki (the generic name adds the Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
word gran -"great"- to the existing name Astrapotherium, which in turn means "lightning beast", while the specific name adds the English word snorkel, breathing tube, in reference to his trunk). Remains found in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, seem to belong to Granastrapotherium or a very similar animal.
This astrapothere
Astrapotheria
Astrapotheria is an extinct order of South American hoofed animals. The history of this order is enigmatic, but it may taxonomically belong to Meridiungulata . In turn, Meridungulata is believed to belong to the extant superorder Laurasiatheria...
differs from it coeval, the uruguaytheriine astrapotheriid Xenastrapotherium
Xenastrapotherium
Xenastrapotherium is an extinct genus of astrapothere, a type of hoofed herbivorous mammal, native to South America, which lived in the mid-Miocene period, during the Laventan stage...
by their larger size, between 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes, with tusk
Tusk
Tusks are elongated, continuously growing front teeth, usually but not always in pairs, that protrude well beyond the mouth of certain mammal species. They are most commonly canines, as with warthogs, wild boar, and walruses, or, in the case of elephants and narwhals, elongated incisors...
s up to one meter in length, making it the largest representative of Astrapotheria. Other differences include the presence of only one premolar
Premolar
The premolar teeth or bicuspids are transitional teeth located between the canine and molar teeth. In humans, there are two premolars per quadrant, making eight premolars total in the mouth. They have at least two cusps. Premolars can be considered as a 'transitional tooth' during chewing, or...
, the lack of incisors in both jaws and the disposition of the canine tooth
Canine tooth
In mammalian oral anatomy, the canine teeth, also called cuspids, dogteeth, fangs, or eye teeth, are relatively long, pointed teeth...
, which are very large and horizontal, so remember much less than those of hippo
Hippo
A hippo or hippopotamus is either of two species of large African mammal which live mainly in and near water:* Hippopotamus* Pygmy HippopotamusHippo may also refer to:-Given names:...
s and more to the tusks of some ancient relatives of elephants (as Palaeomastodon
Palaeomastodon
Palaeomastodon an extinct genus of Proboscidea. Palaeomastodon fossils have been found in Africa, lived some 36-35 million years ago. They are believed to be the ancestors of elephants or mastodons. This genus is related to Moeritherium....
), although the defenses in elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
s and their relatives are not formed by the canines but the incisors. Similarly, the nostrils appear skull extremely withdrawn in the skull and are large, so this creature had to have a larger trunk
Trunk
Trunk may refer to:In biology:*Trunk, an elephant's proboscis or nose*Trunk, torso*Trunk , a tree's central superstructureIn containers:*Trunk , a large storage compartment*Trunk...
than other astrapotheres; probably, like elephants, this animal using his muscular proboscis
Proboscis
A proboscis is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In simpler terms, a proboscis is the straw-like mouth found in several varieties of species.-Etymology:...
together with their tusks to approach the vegetation and cut (which would be mostly leaves of trees and shrubs) for feeding.