Biology:Palaeotragus

Short description: Extinct genus of mammals

Palaeotragus Temporal range: Miocene PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Skeletal mount, Tianjin Natural History Museum
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Giraffidae
Genus:	†Palaeotragus
Type species
†Palaeotragus rouenii Gaudry, 1861
Species
†P. inexspectatus (Samson & Radulesco, 1966) †P. microdon †P. coelophrys †P. berislavicus

Palaeotragus ("ancient goat") is a genus of very large, primitive, okapi-like giraffids from the Miocene of Africa and Eurasia.

Palaeotragus primaevus is the older species, being found in early to mid-Miocene strata, while P. 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.

Species

P. microdon fossil

The genus consists of the following species:

• Palaeotragus decipiens
• Palaeotragus germaini
• Palaeotragus microdon
• Palaeotragus primaevus
• Palaeotragus quadricornis
• Palaeotragus. rouenii

Further reading

• "Paléontologie. — Résultats des fouilles entreprises en Grèce sous les auspices de l'Académie". Comptes-rendus de l'Académie des Sciences. 53. Paris. 1861. p. 239. OCLC 469002103. https://archive.org/stream/ComptesRendusAcademieDesSciences0052/ComptesRendusAcadmieDesSciences-Tome052-Janvier-juin1861#page/n237/mode/2up. 

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q1189621 entry