Megalochoerus is an extinct genus of large and long-legged pig-like animals from the Miocene of Africa.[1] [2]
The species M. khinzikebirus and M. marymuunguae were once considered to belong to the related Kubanochoerus or Libycochoerus, but have since been reassigned to Megalochoerus.[3]
Megalochoerus marymuuguae was the smallest and earliest of the three species, while M. humungous was the latest occurring and largest.[4]
Megalochoerus contained some of the largest suids ever known to exist. Weight estimates of M. khinzikebirus, intermediate in size between the other two species, have been as high as 1104kg (2,434lb) based on dental morphology, easily larger than other giant fossil pigs such as Kubanochoerus and Notochoerus. Other calculations based on molar and humerus measurements have yielded lower estimates for M. khinzikebirus; 526kg (1,160lb) based on measurements of the lower molar (m/1), and 303kg (668lb) based on articulation of the distal humerus.[5] Regardless, even the smallest estimates would suggest that the larger M. homungous was the largest known suid, reaching the size of a gomphothere which would have measured more than tall and weighed 2.1MT.[6] [7]