- Pelorovis
Taxobox
name = "Pelorovis"
image_caption = "Pelorovis antiquus, P. turkanensis" & "P. oldowayensis" (from left to right)
image_width = 280px
fossil_range = LatePliocene toHolocene
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Mammalia
ordo =Artiodactyla
familia =Bovidae
genus = "†Pelorovis"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision ="†Pelorovis antiquus "
"†Pelorovis howelli "
"†Pelorovis oldowayensis "
"†Pelorovis turkanensis ""Pelorovis" ("Prodigious/Monstrous "
Ovis ") was an extinctgenus ofAfrica n wild cattle, which first appeared in thePliocene , 2.5 million years ago, and became extinct during theHolocene , some 4,000 years ago."Pelorovis" was related to the
African buffalo and closely resembled it except for its long, curved horns. These were about 1 m (3 ft 4 in) long each; when covered withkeratin the length could have been up to 3 m (6 ft 8 in). They pointed away from the head and formed a half circle each in the species "Pelorovis oldowayensis" and "Pelorovis turkanensis". The horns of "Pelorovis antiquus" were also magnificent but resembled in shape more those of the Water buffalo ("Bubalus"). "P. antiquus" was even placed in the Genus "Bubalus" by early specialists. "Pelorovis oldowayensis" was broadly of the same size like modern African buffalo, but its legs were longer and the elongated head of this species was reminiscent to those of the modernAlcelaphinae . "Pelorovis antiquus" was about the same size, but it was built more robust."Pelorovis antiquus" disappeared around 12.000 years ago from southern and eastern Africa. Fossil and archaeological evidence indicates, that this species lived in north Africa until 4000 years ago. "Pelorovis oldowaywensis" occurred in sub-saharan Africa and disappeared 800.000 years ago.
The best fossils of "Pelorovis oldowayensis" are known from the
Olduvai Gorge inTanzania , a complete skeleton of "Pelorovis antiquus" was found nearDjelfa in Algeria.Literature
* Alan Turner & Mauricio Anton: "Evolving Eden, An Illustrated Guide to the Evolution of the African Large-Mammal Fauna". Columbia University Press, New York 2004 ISBN 0-231-11944-5
* Ronald M. Nowak: "Walker's Mammals of the World". Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
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