''Merycochoerus'' (Greek: "ruminant" (merux)-like "swine" (khoiros)) is an extinct

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

oreodont Merycoidodontoidea, sometimes called "oreodonts" or "ruminating hogs", is an extinct superfamily of prehistoric cud-chewing artiodactyls with short faces and fang-like canine teeth. As their name implies, some of the better known forms were gener ...

of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Merycoidodontidae Merycoidodontoidea, sometimes called "oreodonts" or "ruminating hogs", is an extinct superfamily of prehistoric cud-chewing artiodactyls with short faces and fang-like canine teeth. As their name implies, some of the better known forms were gen ...

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to North America. They lived during the

Early Oligocene The Rupelian is, in the geologic timescale, the older of two ages or the lower of two stages of the Oligocene Epoch/ Series. It spans the time between . It is preceded by the Priabonian Stage (part of the Eocene) and is followed by the Chattian ...

33.9—30.8 mya, existing for approximately . Fossils are widespread through the western

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

''Merycochoerus'' was a cud-chewing plant-eater with a long face, tusk-like

canine teeth In mammalian oral anatomy, the canine teeth, also called cuspids, dog teeth, or (in the context of the upper jaw) fangs, eye teeth, vampire teeth, or vampire fangs, are the relatively long, pointed teeth. They can appear more flattened howeve ...

, heavy body, long tail, short feet, and four-toed hooves. The long animals are thought to have been amphibious, as members of the genus possessed an elongated, barrel-shaped body and short limbs that are typical adaptations found in semi-aquatic mammals.

Species

*''M. carrikeri'' (syn. ''Promerycochoerus thomsoni'') *''M. chelydra'' (syn. ''Promerycochoerus barbouri'') *''M. magnus'' *''M. matthewi'' *''M. pinensis'' *''M. proprius'' *''M. superbus'' (syn. ''M. fricki'', ''M. leidyi'', ''M. macrostegus'', ''M. montanus'', ''M. temporalis'', ''Promerycochoerus grandis'', ''P. hatcheri'', ''P. hollandi'', ''P. inflatus'', ''P. latidens'', ''P. loomisi'', ''P. lulli'', ''P. marshi'', ''P. microcephalus'') *''M. vantasselensis''

Resources

{{Taxonbar, from=Q6820973 Oligocene even-toed ungulates Burdigalian genus extinctions Oligocene mammals of North America Miocene even-toed ungulates Oligocene genus first appearances Miocene mammals of North America Prehistoric even-toed ungulate genera