Meridiungulata
Encyclopedia : M : ME : MER : Meridiungulata
Clade with the rank of cohort or super-order, part of the Atlantogenata, containing the South-American Ungulates: Xenungulata, Astrapotheria, Notoungulata and Litopterna. This is a new clade, since the member orders are seen as Ungulates by most scientists. The last few years more and more scientists believe the Meridiungulata originated in South-America, with the Xenarthra as closest relatives. So it seems the typical Ungulate morphology originated three times independently: in the Meridiungulata, the Afrotheria and the "true" ungulates in the Laurasiatheria. A great example of convergent evolution.
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