SYSTEMATICS AND STRATIGRAPHY OF THE GENERA TAUCANAMO AND SCHIZOCHOERUS AND A CLASSIFICATION OF THE PALAEOCHOERIDAE (SUOIDEA, MAMMALIA)

For a long time, 'Taucanamo pygmaeum' was considered to be a peccary ( Tayassuidae) with a long stratigraphical range. This paper demonstrate s that: I) the correct name for the Middle Miocene species is Taucanam o grandaevum, 2) the Early Miocene Taucanamo primum n. sp. is a differ ent species, 3) Taucanamo belongs to the Palaeochoeridae and 4) Albano hyus pygmaeus is a suid (Suidae). Schizochoerus experienced a rapid ev olution during the Middle and early Late Miocene and three successive species can be recognized: S. anatoliensis n. sp., S. sinapensis n. sp . and S. vallesiensis. The stratigraphical value of Taucanamo is discu ssed and a classification of the Palaeochoeridae (Suoidea, Mammalia) i s presented.