A new entelodont (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the late Eocene of China and its phylogenetic implications

We report a new genus and species of Entelodontidae, Entelodontellus zhouliangi gen. et sp. nov. The new taxon is represented by a pair of mandibular halves which belong to the same individual. The left mandible preserves three molars and the right half preserves p4-m3. It can be distinguished from other entelodonts by presenting a large robust posterior mandibular tubercle, and a primitive dental morphology with a distinct paraconid and hypoconulid on m3. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out. Ten taxa and 10 characters were added to a previously published total-evidence matrix to produce a more comprehensive understanding of entelodontid phylogeny. Our phylogenetic analyses reveal that E. zhouliangi is positioned as one of the most basal taxa of Entelodontidae, inconsistent with the hypothesis that Eoentelodon is the ancestor of all the other entelodonts. The phylogenetic analyses also show that the family Entelodontidae is nested in Cetancodontamorpha, which is one of the four major radiations of Artiodactyla. It is more closely related to hippopotamus and cetaceans than to Suina.