Eons: The Hellacious Lives of the "Hell Pigs"

7 minutes 16 seconds

Now Playing As: Captioned (English) (change)

Despite the name, scientists don’t know where the so-called “hell pigs” belong in the mammalian family tree. They walked on hooves, like pigs do, but had longer legs, almost like deer. They had hunched backs similar to rhinos or bison. However, scientists believe there is some evolutionary method to this anatomical madness. Part of the "Eons" series.

Media Details

Runtime: 7 minutes 16 seconds

Topic: Science
Subtopic: Animals, Evolution, Prehistoric Life
Grade/Interest Level: 10 - 12
Release Year: 2019
Producer/Distributor: PBS Digital Studios
Series: Eons

A Wooly Rhino is grazing on the slope of a mountain.

Still image from: Eons: The Hellacious Lives of the "Hell Pigs"

A group of four legged terrestrial creatures. Caption: Synapsids.

A pair of Ichthyosaurs hunting prey in the sea.

Still image from: Eons: When We Met Other Human Species

Still image from: Eons: How Volcanoes Froze the Earth (Twice)

Still image from: Eons: How Earth's First, Unkillable Animals Saved the World

A giant deer roams a grassland.

An illustration depicts the dinosaur, Coelophysis, with new born Coelophysis in between its beak.

A painting depicts scientists comparing Piltdown Man's remains to other species. Charles Dawson and Sir Arthur Smith Woodward are seen standing together.