Metridiochoerus is an extinct genus of swine known from the Pliocene and Pleistocene of Africa. It is also known as the giant warthog.
| Metridiochoerus Temporal range: Late Pliocene to Late Pleistocene | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Jaw of M. hopwoodi at National Museum of Natural History | |
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| M. andrewsi (centre) compared to a living Desert warthog (left) and Notochoerus eulius (right) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Suidae |
| Subfamily: | Suinae |
| Genus: | †Metridiochoerus Hopwood, 1926 |
| Type species | |
| †Metridiochoerus andrewsi Hopwood, 1926 | |
| Species | |
| |
Chronology
The oldest specimen dates to around 3.4 million years ago from the Usno Formation in Ethiopia.[1] It probably evolved from a recent immigrant from Eurasia, which has been suggested to be the European "Postpotamochoerus" provincialis.[2] The youngest remains of the genus date to the Late Pleistocene in southern Africa (Zimababwe, and possibly South Africa).[3]
Description
Metridiochoerus was a large animal, 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in length, resembling a giant warthog. It had two large pairs of tusks which were pointed sideways and curved upwards.[4] The teeth, especially the third molars, become increasingly high crowned (hypsodont) in later species.[1]
Biology
The various species are usually thought to have been grazers,[3] though this has been questioned for the earliest low crowned species.[1]
References
External links
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