Baluchitherium, the largest land mammal known to science, was a hornless rhinoceros that lived in late [Oligocene] and early [Miocene] time. This immense creature measured approximately 25 feet from head to tail, stood almost 18 feet high at the shoulder, and must have weighed many tons. Remains of these creatures have not been discovered in North America, and they appear to have been restricted to Central Asia.
Order Artiodactyla.—
The artiodactyls are the even-toed hoofed mammals and include such familiar forms as pigs, camels, deer, goats, sheep, and hippopotamuses. This is a large and varied group of animals, but the basic anatomical structure of the limbs and teeth show well the relationship between the different forms. Artiodactyls are abundant fossils in rocks ranging from [Eocene] to [Pleistocene] in age and are common in rocks of this age in Texas.
ENTELODONTS.—
These giant pig-like artiodactyls lived during [Oligocene] and early [Miocene] time and were distinguished by a long heavy skull that held a relatively small brain. The face was marked by large knobs which were located beneath the eyes and on the underside of the lower jaw, and although these knob-like structures were blunt they had the appearance of short horns. Certain of these giant swine attained a height of 6 feet at the shoulders and had skulls that measured 3 feet in length ([Pl. 46]). Entelodont remains have been found in the Miocene of the Texas Coastal Plain.
CAMELS.—
The first known camels have been reported from rocks of upper [Eocene] age, and these small forms underwent considerable specialization of teeth and limbs as they developed in size. Many of the camels that lived during the middle [Cenozoic] had long legs which were well adapted to running and long necks which would have allowed the animals to browse on the leaves of tall trees.
The earliest known Texas camels were found in rocks of [Oligocene] age, and camels, like horses, must have been abundant in Texas during the [Pleistocene] for their fossilized remains are common in many parts of the State.
Plate 49
[CENOZOIC] MAMMALS
