''Nyanzachoerus'' is an extinct genus of the pig family (

Suidae Suidae is a family (biology), family of Even-toed ungulate, artiodactyl mammals which are commonly called pigs, hogs, or swine. In addition to numerous fossil species, 18 Extant taxon, extant species are currently recognized (or 19 counting domes ...

) belonging to the subfamily Tetraconodontinae. The several species of ''Nyanzachoerus'' lived in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

from the

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first epoch (geology), geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and mea ...

Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch (geology), epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.33 to 2.58

Description

This was a large pig-like creature, larger than living species. Fossils of males of these species show that they had large lumps on their muzzle and widely flaring cheekbones. Their tusks were only of moderate size. It can be assumed that the ornaments were used as a mating display.

Palaeoecology

Dental microwear analysis of ''N. pattersoni'' fossils found at Kanapoi indicate that it was a mixed feeder, partitioning its dietary niche with '' Notochoerus jaegeri'', which was a grazer.

Species

A total of 11 species have been described. *''N. syrticus'', Leonardi 1952 *''N. kanamensis'', Leakey 1958 *''N. devauxi'', Arambourg 1968 *''N. jaegeri'', Coppens 1971 *''N. waylandi'', Cooke and Coryndon 1970 *''N. pattersoni'', Cooke and Ewer 1972 *''N. tulotos'', Cooke and Ewer 1972 *''N. plicatus'', Cooke and Ewer 1972 *''N. australis'', Cooke and Hendey 1992 *''N. khinzir'', Boisserie, Souron, Mackaye, Likius, Vignaud and Brunet, 2014 *''N. nakaliensis'', Tsubamoto ''et al''., 2020

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q7070900 Prehistoric Suidae Miocene Artiodactyla Miocene mammals of Africa Pliocene Artiodactyla Fossil taxa described in 1958 Miocene genus first appearances Pliocene extinctions Prehistoric Artiodactyla genera