New skulls of Kolpochoerus phacochoeroides (Suidae: Mammalia) from the late Pliocene of Ahl al Oughlam, Morocco

Date
2004-12
Authors
Geraads, Denis
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Publisher
Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research
Abstract
The discovery of two male skulls of Kolpochoerus phacochoeroides from the late Pliocene of Ahl al Oughlam in Morocco, and the revision of the whole collection from this locality, allows us to extend the description of this North African form, to estimate its sexual dimorphism and the extent of individual variation in a large isochronous sample, to reveal some ontogenic changes, and to confirmits distinction as a species on its own, as its cranial proportions (large occipital, short snout) and tooth characters (lack of enamel on upper canines, reduced incisors and premolars, complicated third molars) set it clearly apart from the East and SouthAfrican forms.Acladistic analysis shows that K. phacochoeroides and Hylochoerus are the terminal branches of the Kolpochoerus clade, which is the sister-group of Potamochoerus.
Description
Keywords
Africa, Pliocene, Pleistocene, Suidae, Mammalia, Kolpochoerus, cladistics.
Citation