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Lot 8345

Fossil Pig

3 December 2006, 11:00 PST
Los Angeles

US$60,000 - US$80,000

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Fossil Pig

Archaeotherium
Oligocene
White River Badlands, South Dakota

Though Archaeotherium’s appearance is reminiscent of a warthog, it is unrelated to the warthog. It belongs to the Artiodactyls (even-toed) group, is an entelodont, and is only distantly related to pigs. The skull is long and has two large bony protrusions behind the eye and several smaller ones on the lower jaw; in life Archaeotherium was probably grotesque in appearance. Over the shoulders the dorsal spines are huge, giving it a large hump over the back. Though it ate roots and tubers, it is also believed to have been a carrion feeder; it was capable of catching small and slow prey like snakes and baby birds, eggs and turtles. Displaying large crushing teeth, its large head allowed for more muscle attachment to the neck, helping it to crush bone. An active social animal, many skulls have been found showing bite marks and scratches from other entelodonts. Measures 62 x 40in

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