Entelodon
Temporal range: Late Eocene to Early Oligocene (Priabonian–Rupelian), 37.2–28.4 Ma
Two mandibular canines of E. magnus at the MHNT
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: †Entelodontidae
Genus: †Entelodon
Aymard, 1846
Type species
†Entelodon magnus
Aymard, 1846
Other Species
  • †E. antiquus Repelin, 1919
  • †E. aymardi (Pomel, 1853)
  • †E. deguilhemi Repelin, 1918
  • †E. dirus Matthew and Granger, 1923
  • †E. gobiensis (Trofimov, 1952)
  • †E. major (Biriukov, 1961)
  • †E. ronzonii Aymard, 1846
  • †E. verdeaui (Delfortrie, 1874)
Synonyms
  • Elotherium Pommel, 1847

Entelodon (meaning 'complete teeth', from Ancient Greek ἐντελής entelēs 'complete' and ὀδών odōn 'tooth', referring to its "complete" eutherian dentition[1]), formerly called Elotherium, is an extinct genus of entelodont artiodactyl found in Eurasia. Fossils of species of Entelodon are found in Paleogene strata ranging in age from the Late Eocene to Early Oligocene, from 37.2 to 28.4 Ma.[2]

Taxonomy

E. magnus was the first entelodont, being discovered by French paleontologist Auguste Aymard. Entelodon and Elotherium are almost certainly synonymous, though fossils belonging to the latter name are fragmentary and have been lost, while those of the former were likely described later. Nearly all historical and modern authors prefer to use Entelodon for the purpose of clarity, even though it would not take priority under strict rules of nomenclature. The confusion of priority between Entelodon and Elotherium is reflected in the name of their corresponding family. Edward Richard Alston coined the name Elotheriidae in 1878, while Richard Lydekker used the name Entelodontidae in 1883. As with Entelodon, nearly all paleontologists prefer Entelodontidae when referring to the family.[1][3]

Entelodonts were an extinct family of artiodactyls that lived from the Middle Eocene to Early Miocene.[4][5][6] Initially, entelodonts were considered to have be part of the Suina suborder.[7][6] However, molecular and morphological analysis have recovered entelodonts as cetancodontamorphs, being more closely related to hippos and cetaceans than to suids.[8][9]


Yu et al. (2023) recovered Cetacodontamorpha within two major clades, the "entelodontid clade" and Whippomorpha. The "entelodontid clade" consisted of entelodonts, as well as close relatives such as Andrewsarchus and Proentelodon.[10]

Cetacodontamorpha

Description

Size comparison between E. deguilhemi and a human

Entelodon was a fairly typical entelodont, with a large, bulky body, slender legs, and a long snout.[3][1][11][12]

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.[13] Its long, wide head was supported by a robust, short neck,[13] and its cheekbones were greatly enlarged and protruded noticeably from the sides of the head.[14] Though it was more closely related to hippos and whales than pigs, its skull was generally pig-like.[13][14]

European species of Entelodon were around 1.35 metres (4 ft 5 in) tall at the shoulders, with a 65 centimetres (26 in) skull.[13] Entelodon major, known from the Kutanbulak Formation in Kazakhstan was around 1.70 metres (5 ft 7 in) tall at the shoulders, with an 80 centimetres (31 in) skull, making it one of the largest entelodonts. E. gobiensis was one of the largest entelodonts, estimated to have weighed 630 kilograms (1,390 lb).[15]

Paleoecology

Life restoration by Charles R. Knight, 1896

Based on its dental microwear, the enamel surface of E. magnus had an omnivorous diet comparable to that of the modern wild boar. Much like modern pigs, E. magnus likely did not possess a complex stomach similar to most modern artiodactyls. The same paper also found no overlap with brown bears, suggesting it probably did not actively hunt large mammals as part of its diet, nor did it crush bone like hyenas.[16]

Entelodon remains are primarily known from Europe,[17][18][19] although fossils have also been found in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, and even as far east as Japan.[20][21][22]

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.[13][23] The Chinese Entelodon dirus is known from a single tooth discovered in Nei Mongol.[24]

See also

References

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  1. ^ a b c Foss, Scott E. (2007). "Family Entelodontidae". In Prothero, Donald R.; Foss, Scott E. (eds.). The Evolution of Artiodactyls. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 120–129. ISBN 978-0-8018-8735-2.
  2. ^ Vislobokova, I. A. (October 2008). "The oldest representative of Entelodontoidea (Artiodactyla, Suiformes) from the Middle Eocene of Khaichin Ula II, Mongolia, and some evolutionary features of this superfamily". Paleontological Journal. 42 (6): 643–654. doi:10.1134/s0031030108060105.
  3. ^ a b Foss, Scott E. (2001). Systematics and Paleobiology of the Entelodontidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla). DeKalb, Illinois: Ph.D Dissertation. Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University. ProQuest 304715809.
  4. ^ Yu, Yang; Li, Qiang; Wang, Shiqi; Ni, Xijun (2026). "New material of Brachyhyops neimongolensis (Artiodactyla, Entelodontidae) from the upper Eocene in Jeminay, Xinjiang, China". Palaeoworld. 35 (2). doi:10.1016/j.palwor.2025.201039.
  5. ^ Lucas, S.G.; Emry, R.J.; Foss, S.E. (1998). "Taxonomy and distribution of Daeodon, an Oligocene-Miocene entelodont (Mammalia: Artiodactyla) from North America". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 111 (2): 425–435.
  6. ^ a b Vislobokova, I. A. (October 2008). "The oldest representative of Entelodontoidea (Artiodactyla, Suiformes) from the Middle Eocene of Khaichin Ula II, Mongolia, and some evolutionary features of this superfamily". Paleontological Journal. 42 (6): 643–654. doi:10.1134/s0031030108060105.
  7. ^ Joeckel, R. M. (1990). "A Functional Interpretation of the Masticatory System and Paleoecology of Entelodonts". Paleobiology. 16 (4): 459–482. doi:10.1017/S0094837300010198. JSTOR 2400970.
  8. ^ O'Leary, Maureen A.; Gatesy, John (2008). "Impact of increased character sampling on the phylogeny of Cetartiodactyla (Mammalia): combined analysis including fossils". Cladistics. 24 (4): 397–442. doi:10.1111/j.1096-0031.2007.00187.x. ISSN 1096-0031. S2CID 85141801. Archived from the original on 2024-02-25. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  9. ^ Spaulding, Michelle; O'Leary, Maureen A.; Gatesy, John (2009). "Relationships of Cetacea (Artiodactyla) among mammals: increased taxon sampling alters interpretations of key fossils and character evolution". PLOS ONE. 4 (9) e7062. Bibcode:2009PLoSO...4.7062S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0007062. PMC 2740860. PMID 19774069.
  10. ^ Yu, Y.; Gao, H.; Li, Q.; Ni, X. (2023). "A new entelodont (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the late Eocene of China and its phylogenetic implications". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 21 (1) 2189436. Bibcode:2023JSPal..2189436Y. doi:10.1080/14772019.2023.2189436. S2CID 257895430.
  11. ^ Scott, W. B. (1898). "The Osteology of Elotherium". Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. 19 (3): 273–324. doi:10.2307/1005496. ISSN 0065-9746. JSTOR 1005496.
  12. ^ Marsh, O. C. (1894-05-01). "Restoration of Elotherium". American Journal of Science. s3-47 (281): 407–408. Bibcode:1894AmJS...47..407M. doi:10.2475/ajs.s3-47.281.407. ISSN 0002-9599. S2CID 130683520.
  13. ^ a b c d e Agustí, J and Antón, M (2002). Mammoths, Sabertooths, and Hominids: 65 Million Years of Mammalian Evolution in Europe. Retrieved from Google Books
  14. ^ a b Joeckel, R. M. (1990). "A Functional Interpretation of the Masticatory System and Paleoecology of Entelodonts". Paleobiology. 16 (4): 459–482. Bibcode:1990Pbio...16..459J. doi:10.1017/S0094837300010198. JSTOR 2400970.
  15. ^ Tsubamoto Takehisa, Tsogtbaatar Khishigjav; Saneyoshi Mototaka et al. (2013). New specimens of Entelodon gobiensis (Mammalia; Artiodactyla; Entelodontidae) from the Eocene Ergilin Dzo Formation, Mongolia. The Bulletin of Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Okayama University of Science. 39. 37-41.
  16. ^ Rivals, Florent; Belyaev, Ruslan I.; Basova, Vera B.; Prilepskaya, Natalya E. (1 February 2023). "Hogs, hippos or bears? Paleodiet of European Oligocene anthracotheres and entelodonts". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 611 111363. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2022.111363. Retrieved 14 April 2025 – via Elsevier Science Direct.
  17. ^ Aymard, A. (1846). "Essai monographique sur un nouveau genre de mammifere' fossile trouve dans la Haute-Loire, et nomme Entelodon". Annales de la Société d'Agriculture, Sciences, Arts et Commerce du Puy. 12: 227–267.
  18. ^ Pomel, A. (1847). "Note sur un nouveau genre de pachydermes du bassin de la Gironde (Elotherium magnum)". Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France. 2 (4): 1083–1085.
  19. ^ Pomel, A. (1847). "Sur un nouveau genre de Pachydermes fossiles (Elotherium) voisin des Hippopotames". Archives des Sciences Physiques et Naturelles. 5: 307–308.
  20. ^ Lucas, Spencer G.; Emry, Robert J. (January 1996). "Late Eocene entelodonts (Mammalia: Artiodactyla) from Inner Mongolia, China". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 109 (2): 397–405 – via ResearchGate.
  21. ^ Tsubamoto, Takehisa; Koda, Yoshiki; Hasegawa, Yoshikazu; Nabana, Satoshi; Tomida, Yukimitsu (August 2015). "Paleogene mammals from the Iwaki Formation in Japan: Their implications for the geologic age and paleobiogeography of this formation". Journal of Asian Earth Sciences. 108: 18–32. Bibcode:2015JAESc.108...18T. doi:10.1016/j.jseaes.2015.03.049. ISSN 1367-9120.
  22. ^ Ducrocq, Stéphane; Chaimanee, Yaowalak; Jaeger, Jean-Jacques (March 2019). "First record of Entelodontidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) from the late Eocene of Southeast Asia". Comptes Rendus Palevol. 18 (2): 186–190. Bibcode:2019CRPal..18..186D. doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2018.10.001. ISSN 1631-0683.
  23. ^ Paleobiology Database:Entelodon deguilhemi
  24. ^ Paleobiology Database:Entelodon dirus