Moeritherium

Moeritherium was a prehistoric proboscidean from the late Eocene epoch. It was like a mix between an elephant and a hippopotamus.

Facts
The Moeritherium species were pig-like animals that lived about 37-35 million years ago, and resembled modern tapirs or small hippos (they are not believed to be related to either of those animals, however). They were smaller than modern elephants, standing only 70 centimetres (2.3 ft) high at the shoulder and were about 3 metres (9.8 ft) long. They are believed to have wallowed in swamps and rivers, filling the ecological niche now filled by the hippopotamus. The shape of their teeth suggests that they ate soft water vegetation.

Skull
The shape of the skull suggests that Moeritherium did not have an elephant-like trunk, but it may have had a broad flexible upper lip like a tapir's for grasping aquatic vegetation. The second incisor teeth formed small tusks, although these would have looked more like the teeth of a hippo than a modern elephant.

Adaptations
As amphibious mammals, these creatures were too large to be bothered by the usual predators such as crocodiles or sharks. Water wasn’t usually a dangerous place for these animals. They spent most of their days in the water.

Whale Killers
A group of Moeritherium were seen grazing under the water in the mangrove swamps. One was chased by a mother Basilosaurus onto a small island. Hours later, the Basilosaurus attacked but got stuck. The Moeritherium managed to swim away.