Astrapotherium magnum

Taxobox
name = "Astrapotherium"
status = fossil


fossil_range = Late Oligocene to Mid Miocene
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = †Astrapotheria
familia = †Astrapotheriidae
familia_authority = Ameghino 1887
genus = †"Astrapotherium"
genus_authority = Burmeister 1879
species = †"A. magnum"
binomial = "Astrapotherium magnum"

"Astrapotherium magnum" ("Great Lightning Beast") was an extinct South American mammal which vaguely resembled a cross between a small elephant, and a very large tapir. It may have fed on marsh plants. This peculiar-looking animal was unrelated to modern elephants, and was, instead, related to another extinct South American elephant-like ungulate, "Pyrotherium".

Cultural depictions

Mentioned in the book "Ghost" by Piers Anthony, ISBN 0-312-93272-3. Published by Tom Doherty Associates, Inc. / 49 West 24 Street / New York, N.Y. 10010.

External links

* [http://piclib.nhm.ac.uk/piclib/www/image.php?
]