Condylarthra

Condylarthra

[‚kän·də′lär·thrə] (paleontology) A mammalian order of extinct, primitive, hoofed herbivores with five-toed plantigrade to semidigitigrade feet.

Condylarthra

 

an order of extinct ungulates. Condylarth remains have been found in Paleogenic deposits of Eurasia and North America. In skeletal structure they were close to the ancient predatory creodonts, which were probably their ancestors. The size of the condylarths varied from that of a fox to a large horse. The brain was very small. The cheek teeth testify to the poor adaptation to grinding plant food, as do the well-developed canine teeth. The short five-toed limbs ended in hooves.