# The strange case of the Uintatheres:  Next of kin?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-the-uintatheres-next-of-kin/235818>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 23, 2004, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-the-uintatheres-next-of-kin/235818 "2004-03-23T01:36:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-the-uintatheres-next-of-kin/235818/1 "2004-03-23T01:36:46Z")

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These [lovely, graceful beasts](http://www.meta-religion.com/Paranormale/Cryptozoology/Extinct_animals/uintatherium.htm) of another age left no living descendants. However, some critter (or clade) has to be its clos_est_ surviving relative. I’ve read in various places that it’s not known for sure. Some suggest other hooved animals, and one place brought up the intriguing possibility that its closest surviving relative might be. . . the rabbit! (While it may or may not be true, it’s not implausible out of hand considering the elephant/hyrax relationship.)

Anyway. . . the GQ is “Is there any closer consensus on who’s next of kin–and what evidence was used to determine that?”

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**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-the-uintatheres-next-of-kin/235818/2 "2004-03-23T02:06:14Z")

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Damn, that thing is strange. Like “George Lucas re-invents the rhino”

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**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-the-uintatheres-next-of-kin/235818/3 "2004-03-23T02:32:03Z")

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> [@Earl Snake-Hips Tucker](#):
>
> Anyway. . . the GQ is “Is there any closer consensus on who’s next of kin–and what evidence was used to determine that?”

Most sources I’ve seen place them within the Ungulata, with their closest relatives possibly being the Altungulata (aka Paenungulata, depending on who you ask). And, within that group, the surviving members are horses, elephants and rhinos (along with hyraxes and members of Sirenia - dugongs, sea cows and such). Which would mean that their closest living relatives are probably just who they look like they should be related to.

Unfortunately, there isn’t clear evidence which indicates just where on a mammalian cladogram they fall (their lineage is usually connected with a “?”, as shown [here](http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/users/haaramo/metazoa/deuterostoma/chordata/synapsida/Eutheria/Basal_Ungulata/Ungulatomorpha.htm) - they’re found within Dinocerata).