Biology:Capra dalii

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Short description: Extinct species of mammal

Capra dalii
Temporal range: Early Pleistocene 1.76 Ma
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Caprinae
Tribe: Caprini
Genus: Capra
Species:
C. dalii
Binomial name
Capra dalii
Bukhsianidze & Vekua, 2006

Capra dalii is a fossil species of goat discovered in Georgia in 2006.[1] It is named for the Georgian goddess Dali, who was considered the guardian of hoofed animals such as ibexes and goats.[2][3] Fragments of C. dalii fossils were first located at the Dmanisi archaeological site, and are believed to be related to the west Caucasian tur, Capra caucasica.[1] The species is believed to have existed during the Early Pleistocene, around 1.76 million years ago, making it the oldest known example of the Capra genus.[4]

Based on the fossil fragments found, C. dalii is believed to have been a large Capra species, with horns that curved outward. Its teeth are similar to those of Hemitragus orientalis, another fossil species.[5]

Some of the C. dalii fossil fragments are held in the National History collection at the Dmanisi Museum-Reserve, part of the Georgian National Museum.[6]

References

Bibliography

Wikidata ☰ Q21351423 entry