The Childrens Museum of Indianapolis - Pleistocene Flat-headed Peccary Skull

''Platygonus compressus'', the flat-headed peccary, is an extinct mammal species from the Tayassuidae family, that lived in North-America during the Pleistocene. It was first described in 1848 by John L. Leconte.

Description

The flat-headed peccary was about 75 cm (29.5 in) in shoulderheight and about 30 kg (66.1 lb) in weight. Other sources have estimated it to be similar in size to the European Wild Boar. Sizes differ between the place they have been found. Fossil skulls suggest a small brain, but a good sense of smell and sight. It has been suggested that the

nasal cavity The nasal cavity is a large, air-filled space above and behind the human nose, nose in the middle of the face. The nasal septum divides the cavity into two cavities, also known as fossae. Each cavity is the continuation of one of the two nostrils. ...

provided filtration for cold, dry and dusty air. ''Platygonus compressus'' had elongated limbs, a short humerus, broad and erect

thoracic vertebrae In vertebrates, thoracic vertebrae compose the middle segment of the vertebral column, between the cervical vertebrae and the lumbar vertebrae. In humans, there are twelve thoracic vertebrae and they are intermediate in size between the cervical ...

and a large

scapula The scapula (plural scapulae or scapulas), also known as the shoulder blade, is the bone that connects the humerus (upper arm bone) with the clavicle (collar bone). Like their connected bones, the scapulae are paired, with each scapula on eith ...

. Therefore it has been suggested that this species may have been fleeter on foot than modern peccary species. Otherwise they probably appeared very similar to their closest living relative, the Chacoan peccary. Genetic analysis conducted in 2017 indicates that the flat-headed peccary is a sister-taxon to a clade comprising extant peccary species, and divergence date estimates suggest that, if extant peccary diversification occurred in South America, then their common ancestor must have dispersed from North America to South America well before the establishment of the Isthmus of Panama, roughly three million years ago.

Distribution and habitat

The flat-headed peccary was widespread throughout North America. Fossils have been found from New York to California, from Wisconsin to Mexico and further south in South America. An Individual has even been found as far north as the Yukon. ''Platygonus compressus'' lived in a great variety of habitats and had a wide environmental climate tolerance. This species roamed North American Boreal Forest and Tropical Rainforest in South America. Remains of the flat-headed peccary, along with Paleo Indian artifacts and the remains of the giant short-faced bear, stag moose, and the giant beaver were found in the Sheriden Cave in

Wyandot County, Ohio Wyandot County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,900. Its county seat is Upper Sandusky. It was named for the Wyandot Indians, who lived here before and after ...

. At Megenity Peccary Cave in Indiana, remains of over 650 individual flat-headed peccaries have been found. Of the Indiana site, a paleontologist noted:

“So the question is then: did they live here? Or did they all have a misfortune and die here? It’s a little of both, but it’s mainly that they probably inhabited this cave and rock shelter for most of that time period.”Timmons, Jeanne (July 7, 2015) "From the Depths of an Indiana Cave: A Fossil Treasure Trove," (https://mostlymammoths.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/from-the-depths-of-an-indiana-cave-a-fossil-treasure-trove/)

At Bat Cave in Missouri 98 individuals have been found together. Caves could possibly have been used for protection from extreme weather.

Ecology

Flat-headed peccarys are often found in small groups up to 12 individuals. It is likely that ''Platygonus compressus'' lived in varying herd numbers from 2-100, as well as modern peccary species. It is believed to have been an open forest browser. Fossil teeth show adaptation for coarser vegetation.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2174499 Pleistocene mammals of North America