Andrewsarchus may have been no bigger than Daeodon ('Dinohyus')

When I was young, Andrewsarchus was always described as the largest terrestrial mamalian carnivore.

There is a problem- Andrewsarchus is known only by its skull.

And it is not any larger than the skull of Daeodon, the huge entelodont popularly known as 'Dinohyus'.

The old estimate of Andrewsarchus's size is based on the assumption that its body and skull were built with the wolf-like perportions of many animals thought to be related to Andrewsarchus, in particular Mesonyx and other Mesonychids.

However, Andrewsarchus's affinities are unclear, and his skull is more like that of the entelodonts' than wolf-like animals like Mesonychids.

And Andrewsarchus's skull is no bigger than the largest entelodont skulls- like that of Daeodon.

So, sorry, but most likely Andrewsarchus was no larger than the largest mammalian carnivores in many other groups, such as the largest bears, the largest Amphicyonid bear-dogs, and the largest Entelodonts such as Daeodon- which are together the largest mammalian land carnivores of all time, and are about the same size.

So there are many largest mammalian land carnivores of all time, of about the same size- and Andrewsarchus is only one of many from several different completely unrelated groups!

Such as Daeodon, and the giant short-faced bears, and the largest Amphicyonid bear-dogs, all approximately the same size, with the south American short-faced bear being perhaps the biggest of them- or perhaps no bigger than Daeodon or the largest Amphicyonid bear-dogs.

All very impressive, and an impressive variety!

Have fun!

Sincerely,

David S. Annderson