About 30 million years ago, giant creatures known as “hell pigs” roamed North America. Officially called Archaeotherium, these ancient animals were massive—think the size of a small car, weighing up to 2,000 pounds while standing tall on all fours. Their smaller relatives had different eating habits, primarily targeting softer foods.
Initially discovered in 1850, Archaeotherium‘s feeding behavior has puzzled scientists for years. Recent research, led by Brynn Wooten, a doctoral student at Vanderbilt University, highlights new findings from examining tooth wear patterns. Larger Archaeotherium species seemed focused on chewing tough materials like bones, while their smaller counterparts preferred softer options like flesh.
Wooten pointed out that these two groups likely filled different ecological roles. “We can’t assume they were doing the same thing,” she said, emphasizing the importance of understanding their distinct feeding strategies. This research was presented at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology annual meeting and is still awaiting peer review.
An interesting fact is that Archaeotherium lived between 37 and 23 million years ago. Although they looked somewhat like modern pigs, they are more closely related to whales and hippos. Wooten noted that their brain-to-body ratio was similar to reptiles, indicating they weren’t the brightest of creatures.
In earlier debates, scientists speculated whether Archaeotherium acted as predators, scavengers, or herbivores. Bite marks on fossils from a small camel-like animal, Poebrotherium, suggest that these “hell pigs” might have hunted them or scavenged their remains.
Wooten and her team analyzed teeth from various locations, including Nebraska and Colorado. Using a method called dental microwear texture analysis, they were able to create detailed 3D images of tooth surfaces. The findings revealed that the wear on larger Archaeotherium teeth was similar to that of lions and hyenas, indicating they likely crushed their food.
Wooten noted, “It’s really interesting that the large ones are capable of crunching bones,” pointing out that such adaptations suggest a potential for scavenging behavior. The larger species could have used their size to intimidate other predators away from their kills. Conversely, the smaller ones likely feasted on leaves and grasses.
So far, researchers have gathered substantial information about what Archaeotherium could eat but have yet to pinpoint specific species in their diet. Future studies will delve deeper, possibly employing calcium isotope analysis to confirm if bones were part of their meals.
