Entelodon

Entelodon Temporal range: 37.2–28.4Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Houldjinian–Early Oligocene
Illustration by Charles R. Knight
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	†Entelodontidae
Genus:	†Entelodon
Type species
Entelodon magnus Aymard, 1846
Species
†E. magnus (type species)Aymard, 1846 †E. ronzonii Aymard, 1846 †E. aymardi (Pomel, 1853) †E. verdeaui (Delfortrie, 1874) †E. deguilhemi Repelin, 1918 †E. antiquus Repelin, 1919 †E. dirus Matthew and Granger, 1923 †E. gobiensis (Trofimov, 1952)
Synonyms
Elotherium Pommel, 1847

Entelodon (meaning "complete teeth", from Greek entelos (εντελώς) meaning "complete" and don(ti) (δόντι) meaning "tooth", referring to its "complete" eutherian dentition^[1]), is an extinct genus of entelodont artiodactyl endemic to Europe, Eurasia and Asia. Specimens range in age from the Houldjinian (37.2-33.9 mya) to the early Oligocene (33.9-28.4 mya).^[2]

Description

Size comparison between E. deguilhemi and a human

Illustration by Heinrich Harder

Entelodon was a fairly typical Entelodont, with a large, bulky body, slender legs, and a long snout.

Like other entelodonts, Entelodon had complete eutherian dentition (3 incisors, 1 canine, 3 premolars, and 3 molars per quadrant). It had only two toes on each foot, and its legs were built for fast running.^[3] Its long, wide head was supported by a robust, short neck,^[3] and its cheekbones were greatly enlarged and protruded noticeably from the sides of the head.^[4] Though it was more closely related to hippos and whales than pigs, its skull was generally pig-like.^[3][4] It is presumed to have been an omnivore.

Entelodon was around 1.35 m (4.4 ft) tall at the shoulders, with a 65 cm (2 ft 2in) skull.^[3]

Distribution

Entelodon remains are primarily known from Europe, although one Entelodon specimen was found as far as northern China.

Entelodon magnus populated a broad swath of Europe, with remains found in Spain, Germany, France, Romania, and the Caucasus. Extensive remains of Entelodon deguilhemi were uncovered in Vayres-sur-Essonne, France.^[3][5] The Chinese Entelodon dirus is known from a single tooth discovered in Nei Mongol.^[6]

Taxonomy

It is one of four entelodont genera native to Eurasia, the other two being the primitive Eoentelodon of late Eocene China, Proenteledon of middle Eocene Mongolia and the gigantic Paraentelodon of mid to late Oligocene Central Asia.

In popular culture

Entelodon was featured in the third episode of the popular BBC documentary Walking with Beasts. In the program, the narrator always calls the creatures "Entelodonts", instead of the specific genus name.^[7]

Entelodon is one of three non-playable species in the MMO Dino Storm, alongside Smilodon and Brontops.

References