Two ancient , funky - attend mammalian , anthracotheresand entelodonts , have been the subject of a new field of study look at theirteeth . Anthracotheres bear some resemblance to innovative - Clarence Day pigs and hippos and are mean to have had a dieting of fruits and leafage . Entelodonts , also love as “ hell pigs ” , had potent heads , were imagine to squeeze bones like hyenas , and were believed to have an timeserving dieting where they hunted with child herbivores and scavenged .
By look closely at the way the teeth have been worn away , and compare the fogy samples to modern - day mammalian such as bear , otters , and lions , the squad have suggested different diets than previously think for both anthracotheres and entelodont species .
In the microwear dental analysis of the two species , the quarry , scratches , and gouges on the fossil dentition were looked at using a stereomicroscope . Theanthracotheriumsp . had more pit , wide-eyed gouges , and blanket scratches thanEntelodon magnus . Entelodon magnushad more puncture pits and more cross inscribe across the open of the teeth in the sample .
Anthracothere and entelodont tooth remains. Image Credit: Rivals, F., et al. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (2023)
Entelodonts were big mammal that roamed around in theOligoceneand former Miocene . They typically had large skulls , with large canines and incisors ; this suggests that they had a powerful bite similar to carnivore . However , by looking specifically at the microwear of the dentition , the subject field revealed that entelodonts had an omnivore ’s dieting quite similar to that of a wild Sus scrofa , but not the same as a predatory animal like a brown bear .
They intimate that the microwear pattern on the tooth shows thatEntelodon magnusdid not hunt large herbivores or crush bones as previously thought .
The microwear analysis of the anthracotheres show that they are thought to be opportunistic herbivores with some species grazing and some eating a primarily fruit - establish diet .
The paper is published inPalaeogeography , Palaeoclimatology , Palaeoecology .
