Kenyapotamus
Encyclopedia
Kenyapotamus is a possible ancestor of living hippopotamids
that lived in Africa roughly 16 million to 8 million years ago during the Miocene
epoch. Its name reflects that its fossils were first found in modern-day Kenya
.
Although little is known about the Kenyapotamus, its dental pattern bore similarities to that of the genus Xenohyus, a European tayassuid from the Early Miocene. This led some scientists to conclude that hippopotami were most closely related to modern peccaries
and pigs
.
Recent molecular research has suggested that hippopotamids
are more closely related to cetacea
ns than to other artiodactyls. A morphological analysis of fossil artiodactyls and whales, which also included Kenyapotamus, strongly supported a relationship between hippopotamids and the anatomically similar family Anthracotheriidae
. Two archaic whales (Pakicetus
and Artiocetus
) formed the sister group of the hippopotamid-anthracotheriid clade, but this relationship was weakly supported.
Hippopotamidae
Hippopotamuses are the members of the family Hippopotamidae. They are the only extant artiodactyls which walk on four toes on each foot.- Characteristics :...
that lived in Africa roughly 16 million to 8 million years ago during the Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
epoch. Its name reflects that its fossils were first found in modern-day Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
Although little is known about the Kenyapotamus, its dental pattern bore similarities to that of the genus Xenohyus, a European tayassuid from the Early Miocene. This led some scientists to conclude that hippopotami were most closely related to modern peccaries
Peccary
A peccary is a medium-sized mammal of the family Tayassuidae, or New World Pigs. Peccaries are members of the artiodactyl suborder Suina, as are the pig family and possibly the hippopotamus family...
and pigs
Suidae
Suidae is the biological family to which pigs belong. In addition to numerous fossil species, up to sixteen extant species are currently recognized, classified into between four and eight genera...
.
Recent molecular research has suggested that hippopotamids
Hippopotamidae
Hippopotamuses are the members of the family Hippopotamidae. They are the only extant artiodactyls which walk on four toes on each foot.- Characteristics :...
are more closely related to cetacea
Cetacea
The order Cetacea includes the marine mammals commonly known as whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Cetus is Latin and is used in biological names to mean "whale"; its original meaning, "large sea animal", was more general. It comes from Ancient Greek , meaning "whale" or "any huge fish or sea...
ns than to other artiodactyls. A morphological analysis of fossil artiodactyls and whales, which also included Kenyapotamus, strongly supported a relationship between hippopotamids and the anatomically similar family Anthracotheriidae
Anthracotheriidae
Anthracotheriidae is a family of extinct, hippopotamus-like artiodactyl ungulates related to hippopotamuses and whales. The oldest genus, Elomeryx, first appeared during the Middle Eocene in Asia...
. Two archaic whales (Pakicetus
Pakicetus
Pakicetus is a genus of extinct terrestrial carnivorous mammal of the family Pakicetidae which was endemic to Pakistan from the Eocene .Pakicetus existed for approximately...
and Artiocetus
Artiocetus
Artiocetus clavis is an extinct genus of early whales belonging to the family Protocedidae. Their name arises from a combination of Cetacean and Artiodactyl, as this fossil was the first to show that early whales possessed artiodactyl-like ankles....
) formed the sister group of the hippopotamid-anthracotheriid clade, but this relationship was weakly supported.