Paleontology New Oreodonts Pig Like Fossils Evolution +

This revision of the oreodonts (Merycoidodontidae) deals with two subfamilies-7, Miniochoerinae, and 8, Oreonetinae.1 The Miniochoerinae, subfamily 7, embraces four new and closely related genera and two new subgenera, Miniochoerus, M. (Paraminiochoerus), Platyochoerus, Stenopsochoerus, S. (Pseudostenopsochoerus), and Parastenopsochoerus.  The size ranges from the smallest known oreodont from the Brule formation, M. (Paraminiochoerus) gracilis, with a skull somewhat smaller than examples of Merychyus crabilli, to Miniochoerus cheyennensis, with a skull comparable in size with that of Merychyus arenarum.  The subfamily is represented by 475 skulls, mandibular rami, and skeletal elements (240 F:A.M., 130 U.N.S.M., and 105 in various other institutions).  These are described or listed under six new genera and subgenera.  Thirty-eight of these specimens, including three refigured types, representing 18 species (15 of which are new), are illustrated in 11 text figures.  The drawings are reproduced at natural size and one-half natural size. The Oreonetinae, subfamily 8, embraces two related genera, Oreonetes and Limnenetes, and the questionably referred Bathygenys. The smallest known oreodont, Bathygenys alpha Douglass, has a skull comparable in size with that of a small rabbit. The larger skulls of Oreonetes anceps (Douglass) and Limnenetes platyceps Douglass are approximately of the size of examples of M. (Paraminiochoerus) gracilis (Leidy).  The subfamily Oreonetinae is represented by 29 skulls, mandibular rami, and skeletal elements (four F:A.M., 15 A.M., and 10 C.M.).  Thirteen of these specimens, representing three species, a new subspecies, and one undetermined form, and including three refigured types, are reproduced in text figure 12 at natural size and one-half natural size.