| Metridiocherus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Suidae |
| Genus: | †Metridichoerus Hopwood, 1926 |
| Species | |
| |
Metridiocherus, also known as the giant warthog, is an extinct genus in the pig family indigenous to the Pliocene and Pleistocene of Africa. The type and only species is described as M. andrewsi.
Description[]
Metridiochoerus superficially resembles a modern warthog, but reached much larger sized, up to 1.5 meters in length. It had two large pairs of tusks in the front of the jaw that curved upwards from both sides. Analyses of the teeth of the animal revealed a lumpy, strange shaped dentition, which suggests an omnivorous diet.
In popular culture[]
- It appeared as one of the animals available in Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals, simply under the name of "Giant Warthog".
- A wild boar strongly resembling a Metridiocherus is shown within the TV series Primal.
