Palaeotragus
Palaeotragus Temporal range:
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Comparison of Palaeotragus (center) with Climacoceras | |
Fossil
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Genus: | Palaeotragus |
Species | |
P. primaevus |
Palaeotragus ("ancient goat") is a genus of very large, primitive, okapi-like giraffid from the Miocene of Africa, Eurasia.
Palaeotragus primaevus is the older species, being found in early to mid-Miocene strata, while Palaeotragus germaini is found in Late Miocene strata.
P. primaevus is distinguished from P. germaini by the lack of ossicones. It was also the smaller species, being a little under 2 m (6 ft 7 in) at the shoulders. P. germaini had a pair of ossicones, and in life, it would have resembled either a short-necked, 3 m (9.8 ft) tall giraffe, or a gargantuan okapi.
Notes
- ^ Palaeotragus in the Paleobiology Database. Retrieved May 2013.
References
- Gaudry, Albert (1861). "Paléontologie. — Résultats des fouilles entreprises en Grèce sous les auspices de l'Académie". Comptes-rendus de l'Académie des Sciences. Vol. 53. Paris. p. 239. OCLC 469002103.
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