Entelodon, 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 Houldjinian until the Rupelian epoch of the early Oligocene.
Taxonomy
It is one of four entelodont genera native to Eurasia, the other three being the primitive Eoentelodon of late EoceneChina, Proentelodon of middle Eocene Mongolia and the gigantic Paraentelodon of mid-to-late Oligocene Central Asia. ==Description==
Description
Entelodon was a fairly typical entelodont, with a large, bulky body, slender legs, and a long snout. 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. Its long, wide head was supported by a robust, short neck, Though it was more closely related to hippos and whales than pigs, its skull was generally pig-like. ==Paleoecology==
Paleoecology
by Charles R. Knight, 1896 Based on its dental microwear, E. magnus had an omnivorous diet comparable to that of the modern wild boar. Entelodon remains are primarily known from Europe, although fossils have also been found in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, and even as far east as Japan. 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. The Chinese Entelodon dirus is known from a single tooth discovered in Nei Mongol. == See also ==