Nyanzachoerus is an extinct genus of the pig family (Suidae) belonging to the subfamily Tetraconodontinae. The several species of Nyanzachoerus lived in Africa from the Miocene to Pliocene.[National Geographic Prehistoric Mammals, Alan Turner, 2004]
Description
This was a large pig-like creature, larger than living species.
Fossils of males of these species show that they had large lumps on their muzzle and widely flaring cheekbones. Their tusks were only of moderate size. It can be assumed that the ornaments were used as a mating display.
Palaeoecology
Dental microwear analysis of
N. pattersoni fossils found at Kanapoi indicate that it was a mixed feeder, partitioning its dietary niche with
Notochoerus, which was a grazer.
Species
A total of 11 species have been described.
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N. syrticus, Leonardi 1952
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N. kanamensis, Leakey 1958
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N. devauxi, Arambourg 1968
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N. jaegeri, Coppens 1971
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N. waylandi, Cooke and Coryndon 1970
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N. pattersoni, Cooke and Ewer 1972
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N. tulotos, Cooke and Ewer 1972
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N. plicatus, Cooke and Ewer 1972
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N. australis, Cooke and Hendey 1992
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N. khinzir, Boisserie, Souron, Mackaye, Likius, Vignaud and Brunet, 2014
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N. nakaliensis, Tsubamoto et al., 2020
