View source for Biology:Megalotragus

{{Short description|Extinct genus of mammals}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = Pliocene - early [[Earth:Holocene|Holocene]], {{fossil range|5|0.0055}}
| image = Megalotragus skull.jpg
| image_caption = ''Megalotragus kattwinkeli'' skull
| taxon = Megalotragus
| authority = van Hoepen, 1932
| type_species = †'''''Megalotragus kattwinkeli'''''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = 
* ''M. issaci'' <small>Harris, 1991</small>
* ''M. kattwinkeli''
* ''M. priscus'' <small>Broom, 1909</small>
}}

'''''Megalotragus''''' (from Greek ''mega'' (μέλα) 'great' and ''tragos'' (τράγος) 'goat') was a [[Biology:Genus|genus]] of very large extinct African alcelaphines that occurred from the Pliocene to early [[Earth:Holocene|Holocene]].<ref>Turvey, S.T. (2009). Holocene mammal extinctions. In: Turvey, S.T.  (editor) (2009). Holocene extinctions. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.</ref><ref name="Thackeray">Thackeray, John Francis. (2015). Faunal Remains from Holocene Deposits, Excavation 1, Wonderwerk Cave, South Africa. African Archaeological Review.</ref> Its skull resembled that of modern [[Biology:Hartebeest|hartebeest]]s, but it differed in having a larger body size and [[Biology:Wildebeest|wildebeest]]-like proportions.<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Brink |first=J.S. |date=2005 |title=The Evolution of the Black Wildebeest, ''Connochaetes gnou'', and Modern Large Mammal Faunas in Central Southern Africa |type=PhD |publisher=University of Stellenbosch |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/37319466.pdf}}</ref> ''Megalotragus'' includes some of the largest bovid species in the subfamily [[Biology:Alcelaphinae|Alcelaphinae]], reaching a shoulder height of {{convert|abbr=on|1.4|m|ft}}. The genus consists of three species of which ''Megalotragus priscus'' survived until the early Holocene 7.500 C14yBP.<ref name="Thackeray"/>

== Description ==
With a distance between the tips of its horns of around {{cvt|1.2|m}},<ref>{{cite book
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=R80PAQAAMAAJ
| title = Report of the South African Association for the Advancement of Science. Volume 96
| publisher = South African Association for the Advancement of Science
| date = 2000
| access-date = 17 September 2022
| pages = 163
}}</ref> ''Megalotragus'' is probably the largest alcelaphine bovid ever recorded,<ref name=Harrison2011>{{cite book
| isbn = 9789048199624
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=s9Lj-EJEbgsC
| title = Paleontology and Geology of Laetoli: Human Evolution in Context. Volume 2: Fossil Hominins and the Associated Fauna
| publisher = Springer Netherlands
| date = January 27, 2011
| access-date = 17 September 2022
| pages = 404
| author = Terry Harrison
}}</ref> much bigger than the extant wildebeest.<ref>{{cite book
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=U-dJAAAAYAAJ
| title = Discovery. Magazine of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University. Volumes 13-16
| publisher = Peabody Museum of Natural History
| date = 1978
| access-date = 17 September 2022
| pages = 9
}}</ref> The skull of ''Megalotragus'' is similar to that of the [[Biology:Hartebeest|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 [[Biology:Wildebeest|wildebeest]]: for instance, axes from ''Megalotragus'' are robust and compact, suggesting it had a robust, muscular neck that was likely held horizontally, much like [[Biology:Black wildebeest|black wildebeest]].<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Brink |first=J.S. |date=2005 |title=The Evolution of the Black Wildebeest, ''Connochaetes gnou'', and Modern Large Mammal Faunas in Central Southern Africa |type=PhD |publisher=University of Stellenbosch |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/37319466.pdf}}</ref>

The nasal region of ''Megalotragus'' (with the exception of ''Megalotragus priscus'') is inflated and forms a domed structure.<ref name=Harrison2011/> This is similar to the related ''[[Biology:Rusingoryx|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.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Werdelin |first1=Lars |last2=Sanders |first2=William Joseph |title=Cenozoic Mammals of Africa |date=2010 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=9780520257214 |page=784}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q3012079}}

[[Category:Alcelaphinae]]
[[Category:Holocene extinctions]]



{{Sourceattribution|Megalotragus}}