Description
Mesotherium was likely the size of a small sheep, and weighed around 55 kilograms (120 lb). Like most rodents, it had superficially long upper incisors, which met at the tips, however, it had enamel on both the labial and lingual surfaces of the incisors, while rodents only have enamel on the labial surface. Mesotherium's lower incisors were reminiscent of those of a rabbit's.
Mesotherium's ankle joint was made up of a "ball-and-socket" arrangement between the astralagus and the navicular, as well as a sliding articulation of the calcaneocuboid joint, which would cause extension-flexion in the ankle, as well as supination-pronation of the foot. Because of this, Florentino Ameghino predicted in 1905, and confirmed in 1906 that Mesotherium would have a great toe.
Mesotherium was likely fossorial, in that it dug, possibly to find food.
Read more about this topic: Mesotherium
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