Chalicotheres: The Gorilla Horses

The Chalicotheres were among the strangest ungulates to ever live. Possessing vaguely horse-like heads, gorilla-like body proportions and sloth-like claws, these animals were formerly successful browsing herbivores. Emerging during the Middle Eocene roughly 48 million years ago, basal Chalicotheres closely resembled other Perissodactyls of the time. However, the more derived family Chalicotheriidae developed the clawed feet typical of the group. Members of this lineage ranged sheep to draft horse sized. By the Late Oligocene, two notable sub-families had diverged, with these being the Chalicotheriines and Schizotheriines.
The former possessed highly elongated forelimbs, stout hindlimbs and walked on their knuckles in order to keep their claws off the ground. The latter had more typical ungulate proportions, although had also developed retractable claws, walking in a digitigrade stance. Chalicotheres thrived across Africa, Eurasia and North America during the Miocene, although entered a period of decline in the Pliocene. This was probably due to the cooling and drying conditions of the time reducing their favored forested habitats. The youngest genera were the Chalicotheriines Hesperotherium and Nestoritherium, which were native to China and South East Asia until the Middle Pleistocene about 780,000 years.
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[@tessat338]

It's great to hear an in-depth discussion of Chalicotheres. Usually we get, "Oh yeah, these weird things existed, but now let me tell you about...(ground sloths, saber-toothed cats, short-faced bears, dire wolves, etc.)." Thank you for satisfying my curiosity.

[@dr.polaris6423]

Thanks, that’s one of the main aims of this channel for sure.

[@mhdfrb9971]

Interesting how they evolved to had giant ape like locomotion. Convergent evolution is so amazing!

[@mhdfrb9971]

@The Philosoraptor who's that?

[@mhdfrb9971]

@The Philosoraptor oh I don't pay attention to that anymore

[@mhdfrb9971]

@The Philosoraptor yes I'm totally good

[@davidegaruti2582]

correction : apes evolved a calicothere like locomotion

[@WaterShowsProd]

@@davidegaruti2582 Somehow that perspective makes it seem even more amazing.

[@colehalford1893]

I remember the Chalicotheres from Walking with Prehistoric Beasts brought to you from BBC. Thank you so much for making a video on that them. Peace out Dr. Polaris

[@Cyberraptor14]

"They move like rivers" it said

[@TheAnimalKingdom-tq3sz]

To this day, I still don't get these equine relatives have claws

[@dr.polaris6423]

It was a very odd development, although all ungulates did evolve from basal clawed ancestors that lived during the Paleocene.

[@AlexanderTheGoodEnough]

They went extinct because they were delicious 🤤.

[@pale_profile7237]

The claws were evolved to grasp, and aid in foraging and defence.

[@al145]

Evolution doesn't always make sense, it just has to work until it doesn't

[@felipeantonio1304]

Horses walk on there nails so it's not very wierd

[@jenniferofholliston5426]

The diversity of life is truly amazing! Thanks for the comprehensive overview of these weird beasts!

[@austinthe710messiah2]

One of my favorite prehistoric mammals, man I wish they were around today.

[@sharlharmakhis280]

me too! I'd like to gently pat the nose of one if it felt like being friendly (if it didn't I would de-ass the area *with a quickness* believe you me)

[@robertdemon3550]

Could it be domesticated and could you ride it like a horse?

[@austinthe710messiah2]

@@robertdemon3550 I mean human did manage to ride elephants. I'm confident that any animal can become domestic if done with the same efforts done in the past. And thousands of years of practice.

[@drunkenskunkproductionsdsp8094]

Nah, I'd rather not have them exist.

[@etinarcadiaego7424]

@@drunkenskunkproductionsdsp8094 why?

[@DoodersDen]

Ah yess!! I haven't been keeping up with uploads recently but the day I decided to catch up you cover the group of my absolute favorite Cenozoic mammals! Truly this family has so much going for it in terms of just sheer uniqueness! Great vids as always doc!

[@daniell1483]

I love learning about these earlier mammals. It really is a shame that they didn't survive to modern day. Megafauna in general are very charismatic animals and the world once belonged to them. Thanks once again for the great video, Polaris.

[@DirtCobaine]

Don’t get me wrong we have some cool living animals today but I swear animals seem so much more interesting the further back in time we go, at least until a certain point when life was strictly cellular. But man what I would give to be able to go back in time and see these animals.

[@readychalk5145]

I don't think they went fully extinct, it is very reminiscent of my ex brother-in-law

[@skippy-the-destroyer]

Good sir I wish to thank you for your dedication. I found your channel shortly after you started and have never been disappointed with your work. Keep up the outstanding work.

[@jerr-chan2821]

This was quite lovely to explore, I’ve always wondered on this family of prehistoric animals since it I’ve never exactly gotten detailed information when I was reading books on paleontology. Can’t wait for the next rabbit hole we go into together, always nice to listen to your videos while I draw too ❤

[@themonsterbaby]

Ohhhhh I love chalicotheres!!!! I'm so glad you chose them. Such cool, unique animals.

[@pale_profile7237]

It’s interesting despite these species going extinct that their anatomy confirms that they are very unique between a quadrupedal and bipedal mammal. Sort of being able to go in between.

[@ammagnolia]

I feel had they lived today they're just be walking upright. Smaller. And people would have them as pets like they do llamas. And TikTok people would do challenges putting clothes on them since human clothes would easily fit them by now.

[@WaterShowsProd]

I wasn't familiar with this clade before. Certainly one of the most unique extinct mammals in appearence. It's surprising they haven't become iconic for the period alongside sabre-toothed cats and mastadons.

[@Abominatrix650]

This is a good video. Condensed with information, variety of imagery including fossil reconstructions and works from palaeoartists, good background music, not too long and I liked how you began with the Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath Of Cortex arctic level music! That was fun! I think I might just subscribe and add you to my list of palaeo-KZbinrs!

[@gattycroc8073]

when I first saw a 3D illustration of Chalicothere in a book I was like what is this gorilla-horse thing? this was before I saw Walking with Beast, so I had no idea what it was.

[@jonathanmiddleton1775]

Yayyyy you finally did an episode on these guys. Thanks Dr. P 😇 Do you think you can do a video talking about the evolutionary history of Tyrannosaurs or Ceratopsians?

[@alcyon7536]

Hello DrPolaris! quick question when will we see more alter earth content? I really miss it!

[@veryunusual126]

We never see those retractable claws in ANY of those animals, like thylacoleo, fossa or this one...

[@voodoojedizin4353]

Always good videos, great information and presentation, thank you very much for putting the effort in.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

We still have knuckle-walkers among us. Giant anteaters, great apes, pangolins, politicians...

[@iksarguards]

I too spend a great deal of time sitting on my haunches.

[@KalugaOfficial]

Just want to say thank you for including my Chalicotherium art in your video! Keep up the great work!

[@purplehaze2358]

I swear, mammalian evolution feels like the result of a drug trip sometimes.

[@LiezAllLiez]

Gorilla... horses...? Yep. Ive seen everything now.

[@DreAmeoba1]

& I thought I was the only one who thought of them as some sort of weird ‘gorilla horses’…

[@cyankirkpatrick5194]

I can't believe I'm early today. Just try to saddle one of these 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣😂🤣

[@albinakemet]

Not early

[@brianzulauf2974]

Thanks for covering these animals I was unable to much find info on them

[@miguellilly8859]

they are one of my favorite prehistoric animals!

[@naturegirl92584]

Thanks for filling my nerd cup

[@bartolomeorizzo]

I love Chalicotheres, both calicotherinae and schizotherinae. I wish there was much, much more paleoart about them! Great video!

[@cursive6412]

They lived longer than humans have been around.

[@claytonpierce3516]

Interesting theory but would it be possible for the dome headed species signature dome head be like an attachment point for a horn like rhinos and there relatives

[@keltar2007]

I think modern ungulates are unigrade, as opposed to digitigrade.

[@rohaerys4592]

Are there any upcomming videos on alter earth?

[@williamestes629]

I love this channel, it lets me know about animals I didn't know about.

[@anniebranwen4148]

Thanks my favorite. Morpus are the best

[@kaloarepo288]

The word means "gravel beasts" in ancient Greek -I wonder if it's because the fossil remains were found in gravel deposits or did they live in gravel rich environments?

[@brennanray4042]

I clicked as soon as I read gorilla horse 🤣

[@andrewgan557]

If donkey Kong is quite literal

[@gregorygaskill5412]

Sabertooth cats didn't have it easy! I'd like to see one sneeze while drinking some water lol.

[@bobbuilder155]

Imagine they bring back to life, these unique creatures that would be sight

[@abdulazizrex]

Truly fascinating creatures.

[@royhay5741]

I remember seeing these in Walking with Beasts. Always thought they were so cool.

[@MrAquarius969]

Could you maybe mention the closest living relatives in future videos? I think for chalicotheres it's horses and rhinos. It would be a nice addition.

[@MammothMorals]

Horses, rhinos and tapir

[@hobosorcerer]

I hear these were likely physically weaker than giant ground sloths-- do you think that's the case?

[@manzac112]

Another thing you can also talk about is lesser known fossil sites, like the Eastern US.

[@bentramer682]

These things would be really intimidating in life

[@carolynallisee2463]

Nature really seems to like this body plan, or something close to it. From the synapsids and Scutosaurs, through therizinosaurs to these guys, almost every group of terrestrial animal had something like this.

[@Nyctophora]

I admit, I can't help thinking that they would make awesome riding animals.

[@DomingosCJM]

I imagine that some Chalicotheres could have an ant diet like the giant anteater, this would be compatible with using their large claws to dig hard ground where ants usually make their nests.

[@tyrannoraptor9957]

Hey I was wondering if you are still working on your speculative evolution project, I just binged all of them and was curious if it is canceled or if we are ever going to be able to see the modern Holocene dinosaurs

[@Kurotitan7125]

To think that Daeodon didn't hesitate to hunt these beasts

[@Xenoace32]

I jump on these videos the moment they appear, thank you!

[@drunkenskunkproductionsdsp8094]

I KNEW something was up when I saw the a bone diagram in a science book comparing arms (or upper legs) from a human, horse, cat, and bat.

[@chanevazquez3046]

Very well done. Really enjoyed it.

[@jonathanbrewer3240]

The nickname for these guys should really be "Gorilla Horses" as they resemble a cross between a Gorilla and a Horse. 🦍🐎

[@MrBargill]

Looking forward to your next video.. Epicyon is one of my favorites….

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed your video and so I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@kuitaranheatmorus9932]

I love gorilla horses,they're awesome

[@thelaughinghyenas8465]

Ooh, the bone crushers! I am looking forward to that one.

[@NitroIndigo]

TV Tropes called these literal Donkey Kongs.

[@dr.polaris6423]

Haha that's actually really clever!

[@andybeans5790]

I've had the name "Chalicothere" bouncing around my head all week, must have seen this video pop up in my feed and not consciously noticed it 😂

[@paullangford8179]

BC - Before Coffee; that time of the day when your knuckles are still dragging on the ground.

[@003mohamud]

Real life donkey kong

[@AthosJosue]

We have been extinguishing animals for almost a million years🤯

[@cerberaodollam]

I mean if chickens can grow teeth, why not revert from hooves to claws?

[@meinkrafthappy4177]

great video as always

[@WK_MERCURY]

Ancient animals were so weird. Everything that exists now make sense.

[@MrJashuaDavies]

What are the chances some of these could walk upright for short periods like gorillas and bears? I know that's not too common for the horse-goat-deer groups.

[@albashir7140]

Great episode 👏

[@johnjackson9751]

I've witnessed a few youtubers use that Crash Bandicoot music in the beginning recently

[@badartgallery9322]

48 million years ago..... That's a lot of sunsets yo.

[@Andrey.Ivanov]

Around 17.52 billion sunsets to be exact

[@brianedwards7142]

Again I am prompted to wonder why there is no Julian May Pleistocene Exiles movie.

[@raphlvlogs271]

when claws meet hoofs

[@DocReasonable]

Chalicothere means 'Beast of the Gravel', which is ultra-cool.

[@djprincegrandmasteryrjdalo2905]

Oh my God, I never would’ve thought that anybody would consider the Chillicothere, to be commonly called a gorilla horse, I thought I was the only person who thought about that! I guess I wasn’t the only one…

[@darkagestudio3843]

I love this monsters...

[@TrajGreekFire]

I can't wait for Forgotten Bloodlines:Agate which will be about Daeodon and Moropus

[@entombedmachine]

Amazing creatures.

[@pattyoneill91]

These things are like the WEIRDEST pre historic animals

[@davidvogel1756]

I wonder how the grass-fed ones might've tasted.

[@1998topornik]

RIP gorilla like horse relatives. It is shame we will never see them in real life.

[@awabooks9886]

Julian May fans, rejoice! Your "Tales of Pliocene Exile" visuals have arrived 🧡

[@matscaife9014]

The Beltway Bandits Mat 👍

[@timkbirchico8542]

thanks polaris

[@spacechimp5141]

imagine how many animals existed on this planet that we will never discover.

[@tyrannotherium7873]

Really? I didn’t know that they are brachycephalic.

[@yo_titijijo]

What a time it was.

[@JacksonHighlander]

But how did they taste?

[@RM-yw6xe]

You see, THIS is what alien creatures look like.

[@kellywalker1664]

A hoof is but a very blunt claw.

[@blaze7710]

¿Name of the video's music?

[@ctdvargas]

I refer to my wife as a "gorilla horse" all the time. Now I know her family lineage...

[@leoornstein3963]

When I see these guys, I remember the Ghlanos of Kaimere.

[@UnwantedGhost1]

Did some Chalicotheres species really encountered Gigantopithacuses like in the video's thumbnail?

[@Andrey.Ivanov]

Yes, Hesperotherium and Nestoritherium are two chalicothere genera which shared a habitat with Gigantopithecus

[@vassa1972]

Interesting video

[@blazingtrs6348]

gorilla locomotion, therizinosaur lifestyle

[@cacogenicist]

Gorilla-Ground Sloth Horses? Horse-headed gorillas? 2-ton goats with claws? Go home, Darwin, you're drunk, as the kids say. This sort of convergence is fascinating. Next up: canids filling a hyena niche