Embrithopoda

Taxobox
name = Embrithopoda
fossil_range=Late Eocene - Early Oligocene

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image_width = 200px
image_caption = "Arsinoitherium"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
infraclassis = Eutheria
superordo = Afrotheria
ordo = †Embrithopoda
subdivision_ranks = Families
subdivision = †Arsinoitheriidae
†Phenacolophidae

Embrithopoda is an extinct order of mammals which first appeared in the fossil record during the late Eocene and then died out during the Oligocene, 35+ million to 23 million years before the present.

Embrithopods bore a superficial resemblance to rhinoceroses, except that their horns had bony cores covered in keratinized skin, and were not made of hair, and not all embrithopods possessed horns, either. Despite their appearance, they were related to elephants, and were not perissodactyls.

The Embrithopoda are seen as close relatives of the Hyracoidea and may be the ancestors of Proboscidea. They are currently believed to be part of the cohort Afrotheria.

Fossils of Embrithopoda such as "Arsinoitherium" have been found in Egypt, Mongolia, Turkey and Romania, even though until the 1970's only "Arsinoitherium" itself was known, appearing isolated in the fossil record.