Climatic Changes:
During the transition from the Oligocene to Miocene epochs, the Earth experienced significant climatic changes. The warm, tropical climate of the Oligocene gave way to cooler and drier conditions, leading to the transformation of lush forests into more open environments, such as grasslands and savannas.
Entelodonts, adapted to the forested habitats, struggled to adapt to these new conditions. Their bulky size, likely limited mobility, and specialized diet, which mainly consisted of forest vegetation and fruits, made them vulnerable to the changing landscape.
Competition:
As the climate shifted and the environment changed, other species that could better adapt to the new conditions began to thrive. The rise of rhinoceroses, horses and other herbivores posed significant competition to Entelodonts for resources, such as food and territory.
Rhinoceroses, with their robust physique, horns and grazing adaptations, had an advantage in the open grasslands. Horses, known for their speed, dental specializations for grazers and social behaviours, also flourished in the changing environment. These species likely outcompeted Entelodonts for food, leaving them increasingly disadvantaged.
Furthermore, the arrival of carnivores, such as bears, hyenas and saber-toothed cats, added additional threats to Entelodonts, both directly through predation and indirectly through competition for prey.
In conclusion, the extinction of Entelodonts can be attributed to a combination of factors, primarily the climatic changes that altered their habitats and the rising competition from better-adapted species, including rhinoceroses, horses and carnivores. These challenges ultimately proved insurmountable for Entelodonts, leading to their disappearance from the Earth's evolutionary journey.