Chalicotheriines make up an extinct subfamily of the family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 Chalicotheriidae, a group of herbivorous, odd-toed ungulate

Odd-toed ungulate

An odd-toed ungulate is a mammal with hooves that feature an odd number of toes. Odd-toed ungulates comprise the order Perissodactyla . The middle toe on each hoof is usually larger than its neighbours...

 (perissodactyl) mammal

Mammal

Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...

s. Characteristic of this group is an unusual, gorilla-like body plan with very long forelimbs, short hindlimbs, and a partial knuckle-walking position. Analysis of dental microwear implies most chalicotheriines fed on hard fruit and/or seeds. Their claws were most likely used in a hook-like manner to pull down branches, suggesting they lived as bipedal browsers

Browsing (predation)

Browsing is a type of herbivory in which an herbivore feeds on leaves, soft shoots, or fruits of high growing, generally woody, plants such as shrubs. This is contrasted with grazing, usually associated with animals feeding on grass or other low vegetation...

. Presence of chalicotheriine fossils is generally regarded as an indicator of treed environments.