Basic info Taxonomic history Classification Included Taxa
Morphology Ecology and taphonomy External Literature Search Age range and collections

Hippopotamoidea

Mammalia

Synonyms
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1821Hippopotamoidea Gray
1938Hippopotamoidea Colbert p. 104
1971Hippopotamoidea Sahni and Khare p. 47
1988Hippopotamoidea Carroll
2003Hippopotamoidea Boisserie et al. p. 2
2009Hippopotamidamorpha Spaulding et al. p. 3 figs. Table 1
2010Hippopotamoidea Weston and Boisserie p. 853
2011Hippopotamoidea Boisserie et al. p. 620 figs. Table 1
2015Hippopotamoidea Lihoreau et al. p. 2
2021Hippopotamoidea Prothero et al.

Is something missing? Join the Paleobiology Database and enter the data

RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
subclassSynapsida
—Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
—Mammaliamorpha
RankNameAuthor
—Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
—Theriamorpha(Rowe 1993)
—Theriiformes()
—Trechnotheria
—Cladotheria
—Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
—Eutheria()
—Placentalia
—Boreoeutheria
—Laurasiatheria
—Scrotifera
—Euungulata
—Artiodactylamorpha
—Artiodactyla()
—Whippomorpha
superfamilyHippopotamoideaGray 1821
superfamilyHippopotamoideaGray 1821

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Superfm. Hippopotamoidea Gray 1821
show all | hide all
G. †Anthracothema Pilgrim 1928
+
†Anthracothema lijiangensis Zong and Chen 1996
Fm. †Anthracotheriidae Leidy 1869 [anthracothere]
+
G. †Aepinacodon Troxell 1921
+
†Aepinacodon americanus Leidy 1856
†Aepinacodon deflectus Marsh 1890
†Aepinacodon rostratus Scott 1894
G. †Afromeryx Pickford 1991
+
†Afromeryx zelteni Pickford 1991
G. †Ancodon Pomel 1847
G. †Anthracochoerus Dal Piaz 1930
G. †Anthracosenex Zdansky 1930
+
†Anthracosenex ambiguus Zdansky 1930
Subfm. †Anthracotheriinae Leidy 1869
+
G. †Anthracokeryx Pilgrim and Cotter 1916
+
†Anthracokeryx birmanicus Pilgrim and Cotter 1916
+
Invalid names: Anthracokeryx hospes Pilgrim 1928 [synonym]
†Anthracokeryx litangensis Zong and Chen 1996
†Anthracokeryx naduongensis Ducrocq et al. 2015
†Anthracokeryx sinensis Zdansky 1930
+
Invalid names: Anthracokeryx dawsoni Wang 1985 [synonym]
†Anthracokeryx tenuis Pilgrim and Cotter 1916
+
Invalid names: Anthracokeryx bambusae Pilgrim 1928 [synonym], Anthracokeryx myaingensis Pilgrim 1928 [synonym], Anthracokeryx ulnifer Pilgrim 1928 [synonym]
G. †Anthracotherium Cuvier 1822
+
+
Invalid names: Heothema media Tang 1978 [synonym], Heothema nanningensis Zhao 1981 [synonym]
†Anthracotherium bugtiense Pilgrim 1907
†Anthracotherium chaimanei Ducrocq 1999
+
Invalid names: Heothema angnsticalxia Tang 1978 [synonym], Heothema youngi Zhao 1983 [synonym]
†Anthracotherium crassum Pilgrim and Cotter 1916
+
Invalid names: Anthracohyus choeroides Pilgrim and Cotter 1916 [synonym], Anthracokeryx moriturus Pilgrim 1928 [synonym]
†Anthracotherium cuvieri Gaudry 1873
+
Invalid names: Anthracokeryx kwangsiensis Qiu 1977 [synonym]
†Anthracotherium magnum Cuvier 1822
†Anthracotherium pangan Pilgrim and Cotter 1916
+
Invalid names: Anthracohyus rubricae Pilgrim and Cotter 1916 [synonym], Anthracothema palustre Pilgrim and Cotter 1916 [synonym]
†Anthracotherium sinense Zdansky 1930
†Anthracotherium verhoeveni Von Koenigswald 1967
Invalid names: Anthracohyus Pilgrim and Cotter 1916 [synonym], Anthracotherium alsaticum Cuvier 1822 [nomen dubium], Anthracotherium pygmaeum Lambe 1908 [nomen vanum], Anthracotherium valdense Kowalevski 1876 [nomen dubium]
G. †Heptacodon Marsh 1894
+
†Heptacodon curtus Marsh 1894
+
Invalid names: Anthracotherium karense Osborn and Wortman 1894 [synonym], Octacodon valens Marsh 1894 [synonym]
†Heptacodon gibbiceps Marsh 1894
†Heptacodon occidentale Osborn and Wortman 1894
+
Invalid names: Heptacodon quadratus Scott 1940 [synonym]
†Heptacodon occidentalis Osborn and Wortman 1894
†Heptacodon pellionis Storer 1983
†Heptacodon yeguaensis Holroyd 2002
G. †Nabotherium Sileem et al. 2016
+
†Nabotherium aegyptiacum Andrews 1906
G. †Paenanthracotherium Scherler et al. 2019
+
†Paenanthracotherium bergeri Scherler et al. 2019
†Paenanthracotherium strategus Forster-Cooper 1913
Invalid names: Elliotherium murphyi Pickford 2016 [nomen nudum]
G. †Prominatherium Teller 1884
+
†Prominatherium dalmantinum von Meyer 1854
†Prominatherium dalmatinum von Meyer 1854
Invalid names: Anthracotherium bumbachense Stehlin 1910 [nomen dubium], Anthracotherium illyricum Teller 1886 [nomen dubium]
G. †Arretotherium Douglass 1902
+
†Arretotherium acridens Douglass 1902
†Arretotherium fricki Macdonald and Schultz 1956
†Arretotherium leptodus Matthew 1909
†Arretotherium meridionale Rincon et al. 2013
G. †Atopotherium Ducrocq et al. 1996
Subfm. †Bothriodontinae Scott 1940
+
G. †Bakalovia Nikolov and Hessig 1985
+
†Bakalovia palaeopontica Nikolov and Hessig 1985
G. †Bothriodon Aymard 1846
+
†Bothriodon advena Russell 1978
†Bothriodon chowi Xu 1961
†Bothriodon sandaensis Tsubamoto 2007
†Bothriodon velaunus von Meyer 1832
Invalid names: Ancodus Pomel 1848 [synonym], Hyopotamus Leidy 1857 [synonym]
G. †Bothriogenys Schmidt 1913
+
†Bothriogenys andrewsi Schmidt 1913
†Bothriogenys fraasi Schmidt 1913
†Bothriogenys gorringei Andrews and Beadnell 1902
+
Invalid names: Ancodus gorringei Andrews and Beadnell 1902 [replaced]
†Bothriogenys hui Chow 1958
†Bothriogenys langsonensis Ducrocq et al. 2015
†Bothriogenys orientalis Ducrocq 1997
†Bothriogenys rugulosus Schmidt 1913
†Bothriogenys vietnamensis Ducrocq et al. 2015
G. †Brachyodus Depéret 1895
+
†Brachyodus depereti Fourtau 1918
†Brachyodus hui Chow 1958
†Brachyodus manchharensis Prasad 1964
†Brachyodus moneyi Fourtau 1918
†Brachyodus onoideum Gervais 1859
G. †Elomeryx Marsh 1894
+
†Elomeryx armatus Marsh 1894
+
Invalid names: Elomeryx brachystylus Troxell 1921 [synonym], Elomeryx mitis Marsh 1894 [synonym], Hyopotamus brachyrhynchus Osborn and Wortman 1894 [synonym]
†Elomeryx asticus Nikolov 1967
†Elomeryx borbonicus Geais 1934
†Elomeryx cluai Deperet 1906
†Elomeryx crispus Gervais 1849
†Elomeryx garbanii Macdonald 1970
†Elomeryx japonicus Matsumoto 1925
Invalid names: Bakalovia orientalis Böhme et al. 2013 [nomen dubium], Bothriodon chyelingensis Xu 1977 [nomen dubium], Bothriodon tientongensis Xu 1977 [nomen dubium], Brachyodus trofimovi de Bonis et al. 1997 [nomen dubium]
G. †Libycosaurus Bonnarelli 1947
+
†Libycosaurus algeriensis Ducrocq et al. 2001
†Libycosaurus anisae Black 1972
†Libycosaurus bahri Lihoreau et al. 2014
†Libycosaurus petrocchii Bonnarelli 1947
G. †Merycopotamus Falconer and Cautley 1847
+
†Merycopotamus dissimilis Falconer and Cautley 1847
†Merycopotamus medioximus Lihoreau et al. 2004
†Merycopotamus pusillus Lydekker 1885
G. †Octacodon Marsh 1894
G. †Bugtitherium Pilgrim 1908
+
G. †Bunobrachyodus Deperet 1908
G. †Choeromeryx Pomel 1848
+
Invalid names: Chaeromeryx Lydekker 1885 [synonym]
G. †Elliottherium Scherler 2011
G. †Elotherium Pomel 1847
+
†Elotherium leidyanum Marsh in Cope 1868
†Elotherium superbus Leidy 1868
†Elotherium uintense Osborn 1895
G. †Gonotelma Pilgrim 1908
G. †Hemimeryx Lydekker 1883
+
†Hemimeryx blandfordi Lydekker 1883
Invalid names: Gelasmodon Forster-Cooper 1913 [synonym]
G. †Heothema Tang 1978
G. †Huananothema Tang 1978
+
G. †Kukusepasutanka Macdonald 1956
+
†Kukusepasutanka schultzi Macdonald 1956
G. †Masritherium Fourtau 1918
+
†Masritherium aequatorialis MacInnes 1951
†Masritherium depereti Fourtau 1918
G. †Merycops Pilgrim 1910
Subfm. †Microbunodontinae Lihoreau and Ducrocq 2007
+
G. †Geniokeryx Ducrocq 2020
+
†Geniokeryx nanus Ducrocq et al. 2021
†Geniokeryx thailandicus Ducrocq 1999
G. †Microbunodon Depéret 1908
+
†Microbunodon milaensis Lihoreau et al. 2004
†Microbunodon minimum Lihoreau et al. 2004
†Microbunodon silistrense Pentland 1828
G. †Pachychoerops Kretzoi 1941
+
Invalid names: Isodactylus Dal Piaz 1927 [synonym]
G. †Parabrachyodus Forster-Cooper 1915
G. †Probrachyodus Xu and Chiu 1962
+
†Probrachyodus panchiaoensis Xu and Chiu 1962
G. †Qatraniodon Ducrocq 1997
+
†Qatraniodon parvus Andrews 1906
G. †Sivameryx Lydekker 1883
+
†Sivameryx africanus Andrews 1914
†Sivameryx palaeindicus Lydekker 1883
Invalid names: Hyoboops Trouessart 1905 [synonym]
G. †Telmatodon Pilgrim 1907
G. †Ulausuodon Hu 1963
+
†Ulausuodon parvus Hu 1963
G. †Epirigenys Lihoreau et al. 2015
+
†Epirigenys lokonensis Lihoreau et al. 2015
Fm. Hippopotamidae Gray 1821 [hippopotamus]
+
Subfm. Hippopotaminae Gray 1821
+
G. †Archaeopotamus Boisserie 2005
+
†Archaeopotamus harvardi Coryndon 1977
G. Choeropsis Leidy 1853 [pygmy hippo]
+
G. †Chororatherium Boisserie et al. 2003
+
†Chororatherium roobii Boisserie et al. 2003
G. †Hexaprotodon Falconer and Cautley 1836 [pygmy hippo]
+
†Hexaprotodon aethiopicus Coryndon and Coppens 1975
†Hexaprotodon bruneti Boisserie and White 2004
†Hexaprotodon crusafonti Aguire 1963
†Hexaprotodon dissimilis Falconer and Cautley 1836
†Hexaprotodon dulu Boisserie 2004
†Hexaprotodon garyam Boisserie et al. 2005
†Hexaprotodon imaguncula Hopwood 1926
†Hexaprotodon iravticus Falconer and Cautley 1847
†Hexaprotodon mingoz Boisserie et al. 2003
†Hexaprotodon namadicus Falconer and Cautley 1847
†Hexaprotodon palaeindicus Falconer and Cautley 1847
†Hexaprotodon pantanellii Joleaud 1920
†Hexaprotodon primaevus Crusafont et al. 1964
†Hexaprotodon sahabiensis Gaziry 1987
†Hexaprotodon siculus Hooijer 1946
†Hexaprotodon sivalensis Falconer and Cautley 1836
G. Hippopotamus Linnaeus 1758 [hippo]
+
Subg. †Hippopotamus (Tetraprotodon) Falconer and Cautley 1836
†Hippopotamus aethiopicus Coryndon and Coppens 1975
Hippopotamus amphibius Linnaeus 1758 [hippo]
+
Invalid names: Hippopotamus incognitus Faure 1984 [synonym]
†Hippopotamus antiquus Desmarest 1822
+
Invalid names: Hippopotamus tiberinus Mazza 1991 [synonym]
†Hippopotamus behemoth Faure 1986
†Hippopotamus creutzburgi Boekschoten and Sondaar 1966
†Hippopotamus gorgops Dietrich 1928
†Hippopotamus kaisensis Hopwood 1926
†Hippopotamus karumensis Coryndon 1977
†Hippopotamus laloumena Faure and Guerin 1990
†Hippopotamus lemerlei Milne Edwards 1868
+
Invalid names: Hippopotamus leptorhynchus Grandidier and Filhol 1894 [synonym]
†Hippopotamus major Cuvier 1824
†Hippopotamus meltensis Major 1902
†Hippopotamus minor Desmarest 1822
†Hippopotamus protamphibius Arambourg 1944
†Hippopotamus sirensis Pomel 1896
Invalid names: Hippopotamus amphibius standini Monnier and Lamberton 1922 [nomen nudum], Trilobophorus Geze 1985 [synonym]
G. †Phanourios Boekschoten and Sondaar 1972
G. †Saotherium Boisserie 2005
+
†Saotherium mingoz Boisserie 2005
Subfm. †Kenyapotaminae Pickford 1983
+
G. †Kenyapotamus Pickford 1983
+
†Kenyapotamus coryndonae Pickford 1983
†Kenyapotamus ternani Pickford 1983
Invalid names: Palaeopotamus Pickford 2007 [synonym]
G. †Kulutherium Pickford 2007
+
†Kulutherium kenyensis Pickford 2007
G. †Morotochoerus Pickford 1998
+
†Morotochoerus ugandensis Pickford 1998
Invalid names: Hippopotamina Gray 1825 [empty]
G. †Myaingtherium Tsubamoto et al. 2011
+
†Myaingtherium kenyapotamoides Tsubamoto et al. 2011
G. †Siamotherium Suteethorn et al. 1988
+
†Siamotherium krabiense Suteethorn et al. 1988
Invalid names: Hippopotamidamorpha Spaulding et al. 2009 [synonym]
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: terrestrialo
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: amphibiousuc
Diet: herbivoreuc
Reproduction: viviparoussubc
Created: 2011-04-22 22:52:12
Modified: 2011-04-22 07:52:12
Source: o = order, subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum, uc = unranked clade
References: Hendy et al. 2009, Spaulding et al. 2009, Carroll 1988, Nowak 1999, Lillegraven 1979

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Duchesnean to the top of the Holocene or 39.70000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 38.0 Ma

Collections (908 total)

Oldest occurrences

Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Sharamurunian56.0 - 37.71China (Shanxi) Anthracokeryx sinensis, Anthracokeryx dawsoni, Anthracotherium sinense (41116) Anthracosenex ambiguus (42196 42197)
Sharamurunian56.0 - 37.71China (Henan) Anthracokeryx sinensis (42163 42526) Anthracokeryx sinensis, Anthracothema minima (42164) Anthracosenex ambiguus (41120)
Lutetian - Bartonian47.8 - 38.0China (Guangdong) Lunania youngi (167230)
Middle Eocene47.8 - 37.71China (Guangxi) Probrachyodus sp. nov. (190964)
Middle Eocene47.8 - 37.71China (Shandong) Anthracokeryx sinensis (175281)
Middle Eocene47.8 - 37.71China (Yunnan) Bothriodon sp., Hyoboops hui, Probrachyodus panchiaoensis (36668)
Middle Eocene47.8 - 37.71China (Jiangsu) Anthracotheriidae indet. (37493)
Middle Eocene47.8 - 37.71China (Beijing) Anthracotheriidae indet. (174745)
Middle Eocene47.8 - 37.71China (Henan) Anthracokeryx sinensis (42165) Anthracotherium sp. (46193)
Middle Eocene47.8 - 37.71USA (Oregon) Heptacodon sp. (16842)
Middle Eocene47.8 - 37.71USA (Texas) Heptacodon yeguaensis (37559)
Middle Eocene47.8 - 37.71China (Nei Mongol) Anthracotheriidae indet. (28779) Ulausuodon parvus (28786)
Middle Eocene47.8 - 37.71Pakistan Anthracotheriidae indet. (93752)
Middle Eocene - Late/Upper Eocene47.8 - 33.9Japan (Hyogo) Bothriodon sandaensis (74903)
Bartonian41.3 - 38.0Namibia (Sperrgebiet) Bothriogenys gorringei (180197)
Bartonian41.3 - 38.0Myanmar Anthracohyus choeroides (41175) Anthracohyus choeroides, Anthracohyus palustris, Anthracokeryx birmanicus, Anthracokeryx hospes, Anthracokeryx tenuis, Anthracokeryx bambusae, Anthracotherium pangan, Anthracohyus rubricae, Anthracotherium crassum (41207) Anthracokeryx birmanicus (41281) Anthracokeryx moriturus (41110 41150 41286) Anthracokeryx sp., Anthracothema rubricae (41318) Anthracokeryx ulnifer (41143 41280) Anthracothema pangan (41158 41264 41310) Anthracothema rubricae (41285) Anthracothema sp. (41283 41314) Anthracothema sp., Anthracothema pangan, Anthracothema rubricae (41307) Anthracotheriidae indet., Anthracothema pangan, Anthracothema rubricae, Anthracokeryx myaingensis (41180) Anthracotherium pangan, Anthracokeryx tenuis (41456) Anthracotherium pangan, Anthracotherium crassum, Anthracokeryx birmanicus (41331) Myaingtherium kenyapotamoides (177033 177034)
Bartonian41.3 - 38.0China (Henan) Anthracotheriidae indet., Anthracokeryx sp. (177036)
Bartonian - Priabonian41.3 - 33.9Vietnam (Lang Son) Anthracokeryx naduongensis, Bothriogenys vietnamensis, Bothriogenys langsonensis (176502) Bakalovia orientalis (169420)
Bartonian - Priabonian41.3 - 33.9Algeria Anthracotheriidae indet. (59733)
Duchesnean39.7 - 37.0Canada (Saskatchewan) Heptacodon pellionis (16845 16846)