chalicothere

[ kal-i-koh-theer ]

noun

1. a horselike fossil of the genus Chalicotherium and related genera, common in Europe, Asia, and Africa during the Tertiary Period, having a sloping back and three-toed, clawed feet.

chalicothere

/ ˈkælɪkəʊˌθɪə /

noun

1. any of various very large extinct Tertiary horselike perissodactyl mammals that had clawed feet but otherwise resembled titanotheres

chalicothere

/ kăl′ĭ-kə-thîr′ /

1. Any of various large extinct mammals of the family Chalicotheriidae of the Eocene to the Pleistocene Epochs. Chalicotheres were odd-toed ungulates related to horses, rhinos, and tapirs, and had three toes on each foot ending in distinctive curved claws rather than hooves. Some species had front claws so long that they walked on their knuckles.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chalicothere¹

< New Latin Chalicotherium (1833) < Greek chalik-, stem of chálix gravel + -o- -o- + thēríon -there

Word History and Origins

Origin of chalicothere¹

C19: from New Latin Chalicotherium type genus, from Greek khalix gravel + Greek thērion a little beast, from thēr wild animal

Example Sentences

There were bear dogs; miniature horses rhinos; camels; early relatives of modern hippos; ungulates with paired antlers protruding from their heads and snouts; and at least one species of chalicothere, a bizarre chimeric animal that resembled a sloth crossed with a horse grafted to a giraffe.

From Science Daily