PALAEOTHERIUM (i.e.

See also:

• ANCIENT
• ANCIENT (also spelt ANTIENT; derived, through the Fr. ancien, old, from the late Lat. antianum, from ante, before)

ancient

See also:

• ANIMAL
• ANIMAL (Lat. animalis, from anima, breath, soul)

animal)  , a name applied by Cuvier to the remains of ungulate mammals recalling tapirs in general appearance, from the Lower Oligocene gypsum quarries of Paris . These were the first indications of the (From the Paris gypsum.) Restoration of Palaeotherium magnum . (About } nat. size.) occurrence in the fossil state of perissodactyle ungulates allied to the horse, although it was long before the relationship was recognized . The palaeotheres, which range in size from that of a pig to that of a small rhinoceros, are now regarded as representing a family, Palaeotheriidae, nearly related to the horse-tribe, and having, in fact, probably originated from the same ancestral stock, namely, Hyracotheriurn of the Lower Eocene (see EQUIDAE) . The connecting link with Hyracotherium was formed by Pachynolophus (Propalaeotherium), and the line apparently terminated in Paloplotherium, which is also Oligocene . Representatives of the family occur in many parts of Europe, but the typical genus is unknown in North America, where, however, other forms occur . Although palaeotheres resemble tapirs in general appearance, they differ in having only three toes on the fore as well as on the hind foot . The dentition normally comprises the typical series of 44 teeth, although in some instances the first premolar is wanting . The cheek-teeth are short-crowned, generally with no cement, the upper molars having a W-shaped outer wall, from which proceed two oblique transverse crests, while the lower ones carry two crescents . Unlike the early horses, the later premolars are as complex as the molars; and although there is a well-marked gap between the canine and the premolars, there is only a very short one between the former and the incisors . The orbit is completely open behind . In other respects the palaeotheres resemble the ancestral horses .

They were, however, essentially

marsh-dwelling animals, and exhibit no tendency to the cursorial type of limb so characteristic of the horse-line . They were, in fact, essentially inadaptive creatures, and hence rapidly died out . (R .