deinotherium
/ˌdʌɪnə(ʊ)ˈθɪərɪəm
/(also deinothere /ˈdʌɪnə(ʊ)θɪə/)
noun (plural deinotheria or deinotheriums)
A fossil elephant-like mammal found mainly in the Pliocene epoch, that had tusks in the lower jaw that curved downwards and backwards.
- Genus Deinotherium, suborder Deinotherioidea, order Proboscidea.
- These ancient species were lying side by side with more advanced forms called deinotheres and gomphotheres, which were not previously known to exist until 20 million years ago.
- By the Early Miocene, deinotheres had grown to the size of a small elephant, and had migrated to Eurasia.
Origin
Modern Latin, from Greek deinos 'terrible' + thērion 'wild beast'.