relative, Moeritherium, the animal was probably an amphibious browser that fed on aquatic plants, akin to a very small tapir. Both animals are included in the family Numidotheriidae, together with Numidotherium. Below is a phylogenetic tree based on Tabuce et al. 2019.<ref name="tabuceetal2019"/ Palaeobiology Phosphatherium is thought to have had a broad diet. The dental microwear patterns observed on their teeth show lengthy scratches on the molars of juveniles. Correspondingly, similar patterns are found on adult individuals. Through study of the wear and specifically scratches on the teeth of Phosphatherium, the food items it ingested include shrubs and bushes, indicating a mixed feeding preference. Adult molars are found to have a much higher density of scratches, indicating abrasive food sources and possibly insects and small animals. Overall, Phosphatherium is thought to be an omnivorous browser mainly determined by its preferences, as well as the availability of resources. Considering its highly adapted folivorous jaw and tooth structure, Phosphatherium provides evidence of the high age of African endemism. The dental structure of Phosphatherium suggests its diet consisted mainly of leaves, which indicates it may have fulfilled a niche role in its environment, although diet can only be inferred. The discovery of this animal has ultimately helped reinforce the African origin of proboscideans, and provide insight into the radiation of modern orders of placental mammals. References http://mygeologypage.ucdavis.edu/cowen/historyoflife/Phosphatherium.html Paleocene proboscideans Eocene proboscideans Ypresian extinctions Transitional fossils Paleocene mammals of Africa Eocene mammals of Africa Prehistoric placental genera Prehistoric monotypic mammal genera Fossil taxa described in 1996