Protypotherium

Protypotherium is an extinct genus of notoungulate mammals native to South America during the Miocene epoch. A number of closely related animals date back further, to the Paleocene. Fossils of "Protypotherium" have been found in the Deseadan Fray Bentos Formation of Uruguay, Muyu Huasi Formation of Bolivia, Cura-Mallín and Río Frías Formations of Chile, and Santa Cruz, Salicas, Ituzaingó, Cerro Bandera, Chichinales, Sarmiento and Collón Curá Formations of Argentina.
Description.
"Protypotherium" was slightly larger than a rabbit, measuring about in length. The body and legs as well as the tail of this animal were relatively long, while its neck was short. It probably resembled a rodent, possessing slender limbs with clawed feet. Its rat-like skull contained a set of 44 unspecialized teeth.
From the shape of its claws, "Protypotherium" would have been adept at digging and likely took over the burrows of other animals.
Species.
The following species of "Protypotherium" have been described: