Metridiochoerus
| Metridiochoerus Temporal range: Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Jaw of M. hopwoodi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Suidae |
| Genus: | Metridiochoerus Hopwood, 1926 |
| Species | |
| |
Metridiochoerus is an extinct genus of pig indigenous to the Pliocene and Pleistocene of Africa. It is also known as the Giant Warthog.
Description
Restoration
Metridiochoerus was a large animal, 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in length, resembling a giant warthog. It had two large pairs of tusks which were pointed sideways and curved upwards. Based on the complicated, knobbly pattern of the creature's molars, Metridiochoerus is considered to have been an omnivore.[1]
References
- Barry Cox, Colin Harrison, R.J.G. Savage, and Brian Gardiner. (1999): The Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures: A Visual Who's Who of Prehistoric Life. Simon & Schuster.
- David Norman . (2001): The Big Book Of Dinosaurs. pg. 226, Walcome books.
- World Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures: The Ultimate Visual Reference To 1000 Dinosaurs And Prehistoric Creatures Of Land, Air And Sea ... And Cretaceous Eras (World Encyclopedia) by Dougal Dixon