Megalotragus

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Megalotragus
Temporal range: Pliocene - early Holocene, 5–0.0055 Ma
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Megalotragus skull.jpg
Megalotragus kattwinkeli skull
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Antilopinae
Tribe: Alcelaphini
Genus: †Megalotragus
van Hoepen, 1932
Type species
†Megalotragus kattwinkeli
Species
  • M. issaci Harris, 1991
  • M. kattwinkeli
  • M. priscus Broom, 1909

Megalotragus was a genus of very large extinct African alcelaphines that occurred from the Pliocene to early Holocene.[1][2] Its skull resembled that of modern hartebeests, but it differed in having a larger body size and wildebeest-like proportions.[3] Megalotragus includes some of the largest bovid species in the tribe Alcelaphini, reaching a shoulder height of 1.4 m (4.6 ft). The genus consists of three species of which Megalotragus priscus survived until the early Holocene 7.500 C14yBP.[2]

Description[]

The skull of Megalotragus is similar to that of the hartebeest: characterized by extreme elongation, and the fusion and posterior placement of the horn pedicels. However, it's postcrania and proportions are largely reminiscent of wildebeest: for instance, axes from Megalotragus are robust and compact, suggesting it had a robust, muscular neck that was likely held horizontally, much like black wildebeest.[4]

The nasal region of Megalotragus is inflated and forms a domed structure. This is similar to the related Rusingoryx (once included in Megalotragus) but not as extreme. The type species M. kattwinkeli has relatively short, curved horns. M. isaaci possessed longer horns, while M. priscus possessed the longest horns of all three species.[5]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Turvey, S.T. (2009). Holocene mammal extinctions. In: Turvey, S.T. (editor) (2009). Holocene extinctions. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
  2. ^ a b Thackeray, John Francis. (2015). Faunal Remains from Holocene Deposits, Excavation 1, Wonderwerk Cave, South Africa. African Archaeological Review.
  3. ^ Brink, J.S. (2005). The Evolution of the Black Wildebeest, Connochaetes gnou, and Modern Large Mammal Faunas in Central Southern Africa (PDF) (PhD). University of Stellenbosch.
  4. ^ Brink, J.S. (2005). The Evolution of the Black Wildebeest, Connochaetes gnou, and Modern Large Mammal Faunas in Central Southern Africa (PDF) (PhD). University of Stellenbosch.
  5. ^ Werdelin, Lars; Sanders, William Joseph (2010). Cenozoic Mammals of Africa. University of California Press. p. 784. ISBN 9780520257214.


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