Brontotherium ('thunder beast') is an extinct
genus of prehistoric
perissodactyl mammal of the
family Brontotheriidae, an extinct group of
rhinoceros-like browsers related to
horses. The genus was found in
North America during the Late
Eocene.
The creature stood 2.50 m (8 ft 4 in) tall at the shoulders and resembled a
rhinoceros, possessing a forked (in a Y, or
slingshot shape),
horn-like protrusion on its nose, with blunt ends. Many
Brontotherium remains have been found in
South Dakota and
Nebraska. In the past, specimens exposed by severe
rainstorms were found by
Native Americans of the
Sioux tribe. The Sioux believed these creatures produced
thunderstorms when running over the
clouds, and called them 'thunder
horses'. Many of the
skeletons found by the Sioux belonged to
herds which were killed by
volcanic eruptions of the
Rocky Mountains, which were volcanically active at the time.
Brontotherium's dorsal vertebrae above the shoulders had extra long spines to support the huge neck muscles needed to carry the heavy skull. Possibly, Brontotherium had fleshy lips and a long tongue, perfect for carefully selecting preferred food (soft stems and leaves).
According to Mihlbachler et al. 2004, the species within genus Brontotherium were merged with the genus Megacerops, though not all authorities agree on this.