Neochoerus aesopi

Neochoerus aesopi is an extinct species of relatively large rodent that lived in North America during the Pleistocene epoch until its extinction about 12,000 years ago. Belonging to the subfamily Hydrochoerinae, it is closely related to the modern capybaras of the genus Hydrochoerus. Fossils of it have been found in U.S. states such as Florida and South Carolina.^[2] The species was originally outlined in 1853. It weighed about 80 kg, being similar in size to the modern-day capybara.^[1]

Neochoerus aesopi Temporal range: Pleistocene 2.5–0.012 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓ [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Caviidae
Genus:	†Neochoerus
Species:	†N. aesopi
Binomial name
†Neochoerus aesopi Leidy, 1853
Synonyms[1]
Hydrochoerus holmesi Simpson, 1928 Hydrochoerus robustus Leidy, 1886 Neochoerus robustus Leidy, 1886

Hydrochoerus holmesi and several other formerly recognized extinct taxa have been synonymized with N. aesopi.^[1] Identification of these types of rodent fossils is an inexact science, and lines between various classifications are often questionable. Unlike extant capybaras, N. aesopi lived in North America, where its ancestors had migrated from South America during the Great American Interchange.^[3]

See also

• Hydrochoerinae
  • Hydrochoerus
• Neochoerus
  • Neochoerus pinckneyi