Promerycochoerus
Extinct genus of mammals
Promerycochoerus Temporal range: Early Miocene | |
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Promerycochoerus carrikeri | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Family: | †Merycoidodontidae |
Genus: | †Promerycochoerus Douglass, 1901 |
Species | |
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Promerycochoerus ("Before Merycochoerus" or "Before Ruminating Hog"[1]) is an extinct genus of hippopotamus-like oreodont artiodactyl that lived in Central North America during the Early Miocene.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Merycochoerus_superbus_skull.jpg/220px-Merycochoerus_superbus_skull.jpg)
The 1 m (3 ft 4 in) long creature is thought to have been amphibious, as all species possessed an elongated, barrel-shaped body and short limbs that are typical adaptations found in semi-aquatic mammals. P. superbus had a long tapir-like face, while P. carrikeri had a short, somewhat pig-like face.[2]
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