Paedotherium

The first remains associated today with Paedotherium were first described in 1887 by Florentino Ameghino, and attributed to the related genus Pachyruckhos due to an important number of similarities. He name the remains Pachyrukhos bonaerense. Its holotype is MACN 1184, remains of the palatal area including the incisors, molars and premolars, to which he include another specimen, MACN 1667, both assumed to come from the Ensenada Formation. In 1888 Hermann Burmeister describe the new genus Paedotherium insigne. It is, however, rapidly considered a synonym of Pachyrukhos, which take precedence and to which most Paedotherium remains were attributed until 1926. In 1908, Ameghino mentions three new species, Pachyrukhos chapadmalensis, P. brusquitaensis, and P. marplatensis. In 1914, P. brusquitaensis is considered by Rovereto as a synonym of P. chapalmalensis. In 1926, Lucas Kraglievich revalidated the genus Paedotherium over remains from the Early Pliocene Monte Hermoso Formation of Argentina. He also associates other remains from the Chapadmalal Formation to the genus, including an humerus and a tibiofabula (MACN 6125), for which he create the species Paediotherium imperforatum. In 1937, Cabrera described the two new species P. minor and P. affine, from remains from late Miocene rocks of the Arroyo Chasicó Formation. P. minor holotype (MLP 29-IX-I-116) included palatal remains with an upper incisor and a set of cheek teeths. In 1956, Castellanos described two new species of Paedotherium, P. isolinense and P. brocherense, from fragmentary mandibular remains. In 1972 Zetti described Raulringueletia from fragmentary cranial remains (MLP 62-IV-6-1) from the Huayquerian of the Carro Quemado Formation, as well as the new species P. borrelloi, which he thought was intermediate between P. minor (to which he associated P. affine) and P. typicum.

In 1998 Cerdeño and Bond reevaluate Paedotherium and merge Raulringueletia dolicognathus on the basis of the presence of diagnostic features of Paedotherium on its holotype. They, however, maintain it as a species, creating Paedotherium dolicognathum, but considering it a potential specimen of Paedotherium minor. Their study consider P. bonaerense, P. insigne, P. ictus, P. maximus and P. miramarensis as synonyms, P. bonaerense taking priority. P. chapadmalense, P. brusquitaense and P. marplatense were also revised as synonym of P. typicum, as well as P. borrelloi as synonymous with P. minor. The study also estimated the holotypes of P. isolinense and P. brocherense as non-diagnostic, making the two species nomem dubium.[2] Finally, in 2015, an article authored by Reguero et al created a new species, P.kakai, with S.Sal.Scar.Paleo.2012-045 as holotype, a mandibular fragment with cheek teeths. It was named kakai after the Cacán language spoken by the native Diaguitas and Calchaquies in the Salta Province, were the holotype of the new species was found.[3] In 2017 a new analysis by Ercoli et al of the teeth remains resurrected P. borrelloi as a valid species.[1]

The fossils of Paedotherium are very similar to its relative, Pachyrukhos. It was a small-sized mammal and had an hypsodont, "rabbit-like" dentition. Its body shared several similarities with modern rodents and lagomorphs, such as long, hare-like legs, sharp and prominent incisors and even brains similar to those of Caviidae[1] .[4] Its weight is roughly estimated between 1.8 and 2.2 kg. It is generally assumed to be a grazer and maybe a burrower.

Its cranium was different from other hegetotheres by a more developed antorbital maxillary process and a lack of sagittal crest. The third upper molar longer than the second, the second upper and lower premolars are longer and narrower than Pachyrukhos, the third lower molar has a triangular-shaped lobe. Its limbs had longer metatarsals, a more robust second metatarsal and shorter fourth and fifth metatarsal bones than Pachyrukhos.[2]

Skull of several species of Paedotherium. From left to right : P. bonaerense, P. typicum, P. minor, P. borrelloi.

Only four species of Paedotherium are currently considered valid ; two other species, P. borrelloi and P. dolichognathum, are disputed and generally considered synonym of P. minor:

Paedotherium? borrelloi

P. borrelloi was originally described in 1972 by Zetti, but was considered by Cerdeño and Bond as synonymous with P. minor.[2] It was established as a new species in 2017. Its diagnostic features included a small size and teeth intermediate between P. minor, P. typicum and P. bonaerense. It is known only from the Huayquerian Cerro Azul Formation.[1]

Holotype of Paedotherium kakai

The genus was present in a number of environment, from arid environments in the open pampa[1] near the Plataense sea known in formations such as the Arroyo Chasicó where P. minor was present to the more wet and forested fluvial environments documented in the Palo Pintado Formation where P. kakai is the only known form.[3]

Paedotherium was one of the last surviving notoungulate, and the most recent hegetothere known, along with Tremacyllus.[1] The genus survived the Great American Interchange, and may have survived until the earliest Pleistocene.[2] The extinction of the small size notoungulate occurred during a period of climate change, to which rodents and lagomorphs may have been better adapted.