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| Choeropotamidae | |
|---|---|
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| Model ofAmphirhagatherium weigelti | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Infraorder: | Ancodonta |
| Family: | †Choeropotamidae Owen, 1845 |
Choeropotamidae, also known asHaplobunodontidae, are afamily ofextinctmammalherbivores, belonging to theartiodactyls.[1][2] They lived between the lower/middleEocene and lowerOligocene (about 48 - 30 million years ago) and their remains were found inEurope andAfrica.
Choeropotamidae had the classic archaic appearance of primitive artiodactyls, with an unspecialized body and relatively small size. However, since the middle Eocene, choeropotamids began to develop some characteristics that will be found, more accentuated, in thesuiforms:bunodonti molars (low and wide crown) and short legs. Partially complete fossils with shapes such asAmphirhagatherium indicate that these animals still had a relatively elongated tail, slender legs shorter than those of other archaic artiodactyls, an elongated and flexible body, and a long snout. The length of these animals would not exceed 1 meter, and the weight was around 5 to 10 kilograms.
Choeropotamidae are mainly known in numerous European Eocene deposits, and only a few fossils of dubious identity have been found inEgypt andTurkey. Choeropotamids are clearly derived from primitive forms of artiodactyls such asDiacodexis, and yet they already show some specializations that recall the suiforms, although they are not their direct ancestors. Among the various genera belonging to this family areHaplobunodon,Masillabune,Choeropotamus,Tapirulus,Amphirhagatherium andRhagatherium.
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