New skulls of Kolpochoerus phacochoeroides (Suidae: Mammalia) from the late Pliocene of Ahl al Oughlam, Morocco
Date
2004
Authors
Geraads, Denis
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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 confirm its 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 South African forms. A cladistic analysis
shows that K. phacochoeroides and Hylochoerus are the terminal branches of the Kolpochoerus clade, which is the sister-group of
Potamochoerus.