Brachyhyops

Brachyhyops is an extinct genus of the family Entelodontidae, endemic to North America and western Asia during the Eocene epoch (42.0—37.2 years ago mya), existing for approximately 4.8 million years.^[1]

Taxonomy

Brachyhyops was named by Colbert (1937) [also said to be 1938]. Its type is Brachyhyops wyomingensis. It was assigned to Artiodactyla by Colbert (1937); and to Suina by Effinger (1998).^[2]

History

Eoentelodon was synonymized subjectively with Brachyhyops by Lucas and Emry (2004). It was assigned to Entelodontidae by Carroll (1988).

Morphology

Body mass

Four specimens were examined by M. Mendoza, C. M. Janis, and P. Palmqvist for body mass.^[3]

• Specimen 1: 152.6 kg (340 lb)
• Specimen 2: 248.3 kg (550 lb)
• Specimen 3: 141.2 kg (310 lb)
• Specimen 4: 60 kg (130 lb)

Fossil distribution

Fossils have been uncovered from Texas to Uintah County, Utah to Saskatchewan, Canada as well as Jiangsu, China.

Species

B. viensis, B. wyomingensis (syn. Dyscritochoerus lapointensis)

References