| The Pantodonts were the first group
of mammals to achieve large size after the demise of the dinosaurs.
North American pantodonts were generally
larger. Paleocene representatives include both generalized forms like Pantolambda
or Caenolambda and more specialized members like Titanoides and
Barylambda.
Bear-like Titanoides, an animal of approximately 150 kg, had
saberlike upper canines, large front limbs and strong claws at its
plantigrade feet. No mammal of today has a comparable anatomy of the
massive limbs, but several extinct groups like the Eocene to Pleistocene
chalicotheres show similar adaptations. Titanoides may have utilized its
claws to dig for food or to tear tough plants.
- Order Pantodonta, family Titanoideidae (only
genus in this family)
- Late Paleocene of the Western Interior of North America
- Similar to other pantodonts apart from his long canines and claws
- Claws may have laid bare underground roots and tubers, which were then
pulled up by the hooklike lower canines and sliced off by the sabrelike
upper canines.
In this painting I chose to go conservative on
Titanoides coloration because even though the environment it inhabited
was heavily forested, it was one of the largest known animals of its
respective fauna. If this holds true it is possible that Titanoides did not need any cryptic
camouflage coloring to conceal itself |