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Evolution@Vanderbilt

Archaeotherium

Large fossil skull of an Archaeotherium (an extinct entelodont, or “hell pig”) resting on white foam supports on a museum storage shelf. The skull is shown in left side view, with a long snout, large eye socket, prominent cheek region, and several dark fossilized teeth visible, including enlarged canine teeth at the front of the jaw. A specimen label from the Yale Peabody Museum is positioned beneath the skull and identifies it as Archaeotherium wanlessi. A digital caliper lies in the foreground for scale, displaying a measurement of approximately 17.04 mm. The fossil is tan to light brown with visible cracks and surface texture from preservation.

Vanderbilt Research Reveals the Surprising Eating Habits of Ancient “Hell Pigs”

Jun. 24, 2026—By Fabiana Fragoso, PhD – ESI Scientific Communications Volunteer For more than a century, paleontologists have debated what the prehistoric mammals known as “hell pigs” were actually eating. Despite their nickname, these animals were actually more closely related to whales and hippos than to modern pigs. With unusually long snouts, massive jaws, and heavy skulls,...

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