Protypotherium

Protypotherium is an extinct genus of notoungulate mammals native to South America during the Oligocene and Miocene epochs. A number of closely related animals date back further, to the Eocene. Fossils of Protypotherium have been found in the Deseadan Fray Bentos Formation of Uruguay, Muyu Huasi and Nazareno Formations of Bolivia, Cura-Mallín and Río Frías Formations of Chile, and Santa Cruz, Salicas, Ituzaingó, Aisol, Cerro Azul, Cerro Bandera, Cerro Boleadoras, Chichinales, Sarmiento and Collón Curá Formations of Argentina.

The taxonomy of the genus and the species within has a long and complicated history. Other genera of interatheriids such as Epipatriarchus, Eudiastatus, and Toxdontophanus, have been named, but no complete specimens exist, making comparison and classification difficult. Most modern scientists consider these genera to be junior synonyms of Protypotherium, and it is thought to contain the following species; P. australe, P. praerutilum, P. antiquum, P. altum, P. attenuatum, P. claudum, P. colloncurensis, P. diastematum, P. distinctum, P. minutum, P. endiadys, P. sinclairi, and P. concepcionensis. The most completely known species is P. australe, so most reconstructions of the genus are based on it.