Entelodonts

Entelodonts were a family of extinct, pig-like mammals that lived in Eurasia and North America during the Eocene, Oligocene, and Miocene epochs, from roughly 37.2 to 7.2 million years ago. They are characterized by their massive size, robust build, and distinctive skull morphology. The name "entelodont" comes from the Greek words "enteles" meaning complete and "odon" meaning tooth, referring to their complete set of teeth.

These animals were likely omnivores, with a diet that probably included plants, carrion, and possibly smaller animals. Their powerful jaws and large teeth suggest they were capable of crushing bone and tough vegetation. Entelodonts possessed large heads with prominent bony knobs or bosses on their cheeks, the function of which is debated among paleontologists but may have been related to display or muscle attachment for their powerful jaws.

Entelodonts ranged in size from that of a modern wild boar to the size of a rhinoceros. Fossil evidence indicates they lived in a variety of environments, from forests to grasslands. They are considered by many to be among the most formidable mammals of their time. The family went extinct by the late Miocene, with their decline coinciding with the rise of other large mammal groups like rhinos and early bovids.