Chalicotheres were related to the horses and tapirs, and evolved in the mid Eocene from small, forest-living animals rather like the early horses.

Meaning of scientific name
"pebble beast"

Pronunciation of scientific name
KAL-ik-oh-theer

Statistics
Total height when resting: 2.6m (males), 1.8m (females).

Physical Description
By the end of the Oligocene, chalicotheres had divided into two distinct groups  one lived in open areas and browsed like goats, but the other was adapted to woodland and was more like a modern gorilla. These animals shambled along with most of their weight on their short but strong hind legs. The front legs had enormously long, curved claws which meant the chalicothere couldnt put its front feet flat on the ground, and instead had to walk on its knuckles. Once it sat back on its haunches, though, the long claws came into their own and the animal could strip vegetation from all around.

Distribution
Fossils of a knuckle-walking chalicothere called Chalicotherium are found in the Late Oligocene of Asia, but fossils are rare. Knuckle walkers are thought to have evolved in Asia much earlier.

Habitat
They lived in the deciduous woodlands of Asia and North America.

Diet
They were herbivorous, feeding on soft shoots.

Behaviour
These chalicotheres had no front teeth in the upper jaw, and even the back teeth show little wear from use, and so they must have been fussy eaters  picking only the newest, freshest shoots and putting them straight into the back of their mouths like modern pandas.

Conservation status
Extinct.

History
They lived 40-3.5 million years ago.

Closest relative
Odd-toed hoofed animals (perissodactyls): tapir, horses, rhinos (and the extinct brontotheres).