Notohippidae

Notohippidae is a paraphyletic extinct family of notoungulate mammals from South America. Notohippids are known from the Eocene and Oligocene epochs.

== Description == Although the name notohippids means "southern horses," these animals did not resemble horses. The name refers to their teeth, which were very similar to those of horses, featuring sharp incisors and high-crowned molars suitable for shredding grass. The shape of the skull and, particularly, the dentition is the result of convergent evolution with the equids, perissodactyl mammals that developed on the northern continents. The body of notohippids was rather stocky, supported by relatively elongated legs equipped with claws (and not hooves). The earliest forms of notohippids possessed low-crowned molars, but over the course of evolution, the teeth gradually became more prismatic, and covered with a thick layer of cement. The skull also became longer, and as a result of this elongation, spaces formed between the incisors, canines and molars.