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Merycochoerus; Temporal range: Early Oligocene 34–31 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
	Merycochoerus superbus skull
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	†Merycoidodontidae
Genus:	†Merycochoerus; Leidy 1858
Type species
	†Merychochoerus proprius;
Species
	see text
Synonyms
	Megoreodon; Paracotylops; Promerycochoerus; Superdesmatochoerus;

Merycochoerus (Greek: "ruminant" (merux)-like "swine" (khoiros)^[1]) is an extinct genus of oreodont of the family Merycoidodontidae, endemic to North America. They lived during the Early Oligocene 33.9—30.8 mya, existing for approximately 3 million years.^[2] Fossils are widespread through the western United States.

Restoration of *M. carrikeri* by Robert Bruce Horsfall

Merycochoerus was a cud-chewing plant-eater with a long face, tusk-like canine teeth, heavy body, long tail, short feet, and four-toed hooves.^{[citation needed]} The 1 metre (3.3 ft) long animals are thought to have been amphibious, as members of the genus possessed an elongated, barrel-shaped body and short limbs that are typical adaptations found in semi-aquatic mammals.^[3]

Species

M. carrikeri (syn. Promerycochoerus thomsoni)
M. chelydra (syn. Promerycochoerus barbouri)
M. magnus
M. matthewi
M. pinensis
M. proprius
M. superbus (syn. M. fricki, M. leidyi, M. macrostegus, M. montanus, M. temporalis, Promerycochoerus grandis, P. hatcheri, P. hollandi, P. inflatus, P. latidens, P. loomisi, P. lulli, P. marshi, P. microcephalus)
M. vantasselensis

Resources

^ "Glossary. American Museum of Natural History". Archived from the original on 20 November 2021.
^ Merycochoerus at fossilworks
^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 271. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.