Borissiakia is an extinct genus of chalicothere, a group of herbivorous, odd-toed ungulate (perissodactyl) mammals, that lived during the late Oligocene in Kazakhstan. They had claws that were likely used in a hook-like manner to pull down branches, suggesting they lived as bipedal browsers.[1]

Borissiakia
Temporal range: Late Oligocene
Mounted skeleton (top) and life restoration (bottom)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Chalicotheriidae
Subfamily: Schizotheriinae
Genus: Borissiakia
Butler, 1965
Type species
Borissiakia betpakdalensis originally Moropus betpakdalensis
Flerov, 1938

References edit

  1. ^ Coombs, Margery C. (13 Feb 2009). "The chalicothere Metaschizotherium bavaricum (Perissodactyla, Chalicotheriidae, Schizotheriinae) from the Miocene (MN5) Lagerstatte of Sandelzhausen (Germany): description, comparison, and paleoecological significance" (PDF). Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 83 (1). Springer Berlin / Heidelberg: 85–129. doi:10.1007/s12542-009-0004-x. S2CID 140194075. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2018.

Sources edit

  • Classification of Mammals by Malcolm C. McKenna and Susan K. Bell