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Prosthennops
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Prosthennops
Prosthennops is a genus of extinct peccaries that lived in North and Central America between the middle Miocene and lower Pliocene (around 15-5 million years ago).
This animal was very similar to present-day peccaries, both in appearance and size. Prosthennops had a shoulder height of about 76 cm. Individuals in the northern part of its range were larger than those in southern Central America.
It possessed a robust skull, with a depressed and elongated snout (but to a lesser extent than other extinct peccaries such as Mylohyus). The orbits were set back on the skull, above the glenoid cavity. The malar/zygomatic bones were prominent like those of African warthogs, developing laterally in massive tubercles.The premaxillary bones were well-developed and bore only two pairs of incisors, of which the second pair was often vestigial.
The fangs were pointed downwards, rather than forwards as in modern boars. The highly developed canines had an elliptical cross-section. The molarisation of the premolars was already very advanced: the second and third premolars were short, with an almost circular outline. The molars were low crowned (brachydonts), covered with a thick layer of enamel and with very simple tubercles.
Fossil finds date to the North American land mammal ages Late Clarendonian and Hemphillian, falling within the Late Miocene. Prosthennops is known from the United States, Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica. In the Curré Formation in the Costa Rican province of Puntarenas, part of the right mandible, molars, parts of the canines and incisors, and a phalanx have been found to be 5.8 million years old. Prosthennops is found in a 12-million-year-old stratum of the lagerstätten Ashfall Fossil Beds, predating the ash layer.
Prosthennops co-occurred with other peccaries such as Platygonus and Protherohyus. It was an omnivore, feeding on plants, nuts, roots and small animals.
Prosthennops is a typical member of the taiassuids, widespread in North America during the Miocene. It appears to have been a relatively specialised form, perhaps along the same evolutionary line that later led to the appearance of elongated snouted peccary forms such as Mylohyus.
Ancient Greek σθένος (sthénos, “strength”) — referring to the skull.
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Prosthennops
Prosthennops is a genus of extinct peccaries that lived in North and Central America between the middle Miocene and lower Pliocene (around 15-5 million years ago).
This animal was very similar to present-day peccaries, both in appearance and size. Prosthennops had a shoulder height of about 76 cm. Individuals in the northern part of its range were larger than those in southern Central America.
It possessed a robust skull, with a depressed and elongated snout (but to a lesser extent than other extinct peccaries such as Mylohyus). The orbits were set back on the skull, above the glenoid cavity. The malar/zygomatic bones were prominent like those of African warthogs, developing laterally in massive tubercles.The premaxillary bones were well-developed and bore only two pairs of incisors, of which the second pair was often vestigial.
The fangs were pointed downwards, rather than forwards as in modern boars. The highly developed canines had an elliptical cross-section. The molarisation of the premolars was already very advanced: the second and third premolars were short, with an almost circular outline. The molars were low crowned (brachydonts), covered with a thick layer of enamel and with very simple tubercles.
Fossil finds date to the North American land mammal ages Late Clarendonian and Hemphillian, falling within the Late Miocene. Prosthennops is known from the United States, Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica. In the Curré Formation in the Costa Rican province of Puntarenas, part of the right mandible, molars, parts of the canines and incisors, and a phalanx have been found to be 5.8 million years old. Prosthennops is found in a 12-million-year-old stratum of the lagerstätten Ashfall Fossil Beds, predating the ash layer.
Prosthennops co-occurred with other peccaries such as Platygonus and Protherohyus. It was an omnivore, feeding on plants, nuts, roots and small animals.
Prosthennops is a typical member of the taiassuids, widespread in North America during the Miocene. It appears to have been a relatively specialised form, perhaps along the same evolutionary line that later led to the appearance of elongated snouted peccary forms such as Mylohyus.
Ancient Greek σθένος (sthénos, “strength”) — referring to the skull.