Peligrotherium

Peligrotherium is an extinct meridiolestidan mammal from the Paleocene of Patagonia, originally interpreted as a stem-ungulate. Its remains have been found in the Salamanca Formation. Around the size of a dog, it was among the largest of all non-therian mammals, and the largest non-therian mammal known from South America. It is a member of Mesungulatoidea, a clade of herbivorous meridiolestidans with molars that had rounded cusps.

Description

The dental formula of Peligrotherium tropicalis was I4?/? C1/1 P3/3 M3/3. Its last premolar was fully molarised, having morphology strongly akin to a molar, as has been suggested for mesungulatoids broadly. The presence of a high cementoenamel junction with a pronounced ridge showing signs of having undergone oral abrasion suggests that the species had a tall, thick gingiva comparable to that of a hippopotamus.

A biomechanical study found Peligrotherium to be a herbivore that was functionally similar to the black rhino.