''Megalochoerus'' is an extinct genus of large and long-legged
pig-like animals from the
Miocene
The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recen ...
of
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
.
Taxonomy
The species ''M. khinzikebirus'' and ''M. marymuunguae'' were once considered to belong to the related ''
Kubanochoerus
''Kubanochoerus'' is an extinct genus of large, long-legged suid artiodactyl mammal from the Miocene of Eurasia and Africa.
Taxonomy
The genera ''Libycochoerus'' and ''Megalochoerus
''Megalochoerus'' is an extinct genus of large and long-l ...
'' or ''
Libycochoerus
''Libycochoerus'' is an extinct genus of large and long-legged animals in the pig family from the Miocene of Africa.
Taxonomy
''Libycochoerus'' was at one point sunk as a junior synonym of ''Kubanochoerus
''Kubanochoerus'' is an extinct genu ...
'', but have since been reassigned to ''Megalochoerus''.
''Megalochoerus marymuuguae'' was the smallest and earliest of the three species, while ''M. humungous'' was the latest occurring and largest.
Description
''Megalochoerus'' contained some of the largest suids ever known to exist. Weight estimates of ''M. khinzikebirus'', intermediate in size between the other two species, have been as high as based on dental morphology, easily larger than other giant fossil pigs such as ''Kubanochoerus'' and ''
Notochoerus''. Other calculations based on molar and humerus measurements have yielded lower estimates for ''M. khinzikebirus''; based on measurements of the lower molar (m/1),
and based on articulation of the distal humerus. Regardless, even the smallest estimates would suggest that the larger ''M. homungous'' was the largest known suid, reaching the size of a
gomphothere
Gomphotheres are any members of the diverse, extinct taxonomic family Gomphotheriidae. Gomphotheres were elephant-like proboscideans, but do not belong to the family Elephantidae. They were widespread across Afro-Eurasia and North America during ...
which would have measured more than tall and weighed .
References
Prehistoric Suidae
Miocene mammals of Africa
Miocene even-toed ungulates
Fossil taxa described in 1993
Prehistoric even-toed ungulate genera
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