Pyrotheres facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pyrotheres Temporal range: Paleocene–Oligocene PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Life reconstruction of Pyrotherium romeroi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Clade:	†Meridiungulata
Order:	†Pyrotheria Ameghino, 1895
Families
†Pyrotheriidae

Pyrotheria (say "Pie-roh-THEER-ee-uh") is the name for a group of extinct (meaning they no longer exist) mammals. These amazing creatures lived a very long time ago in South America. They looked a bit like a mix between a mastodon (an ancient elephant relative) and a tapir (a pig-like animal with a short trunk).

Scientists have found fossils of several different kinds of Pyrotheres. Some of the well-known ones include Baguatherium, Carolozittelia, Colombitherium, Griphodon, Propyrotherium, Proticia, and Pyrotherium.

These animals were quite large. They walked on their toes, like many modern mammals, and had relatively short, thin legs. Their feet had five toes, and these toes had broad, flat bones. Their fossils have only been found in places like Brazil, Peru, and Argentina. They lived during a time called the Paleocene and Oligocene epochs. This was between about 66 million and 23 million years ago!

What Makes Pyrotheres Special?

Pyrotheres had some unique features, especially their teeth. They had strong, forward-pointing front teeth (incisors) that looked like chisels. They also had strong, sharp canine teeth. Their back teeth, called molars, were low-crowned and had a special shape with two ridges, which scientists call "bilophodont." This type of tooth was good for grinding plants.

The Mystery of Their Family Tree

For a long time, scientists have been trying to figure out exactly where Pyrotheres fit into the mammal family tree. It's a bit like a detective story!

• Some experts thought Pyrotheres might be related to another extinct group called Xenungulata. Both groups had similar tooth patterns, but there were also big differences. Most scientists today think they are separate groups.
• Another idea was that Pyrotheres might be related to a group called Dinocerata, which were large, horned mammals. This idea was based on similarities in their teeth.
• More recently, some studies have suggested a link between Pyrotheres and Embrithopoda, another group of extinct mammals.

This means that Pyrotheres could be related to different major branches of mammals:

• Meridiungulata: A group of mammals that mostly lived in South America.
• Laurasiatheria: A huge group that includes animals like horses, dogs, and whales.
• Afrotheria: A group that includes elephants, manatees, and aardvarks.

Scientists are still studying the fossils to solve this puzzle. It's an exciting challenge to uncover the ancient connections between these amazing creatures!

Classification of Pyrotheres

Scientists group animals into families to show how they are related. Here's how Pyrotheres are currently classified:

• Colombitheriidae family
  • Proticia
  • Colombitherium
• Pyrotheriidae family
  • Pyrotherium
  • Griphodon
  • Propyrotherium
  • Carolozittelia
  • Baguatherium
  • Berracotherium