Biology:Taurotragus arkelli

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Short description: Extinct species of bovid

Taurotragus arkelli
Temporal range: Pleistocene
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Bovinae
Genus: Taurotragus
Species:
T. arkelli
Binomial name
Taurotragus arkelli
Leakey, 1965

Taurotragus arkelli is an extinct species of eland from eastern Africa that lived during the Pleistocene. T. arkelli was roughly 5.5 meters long and 2.3 meters tall, making it larger than the extant Giant eland.

Description

Taurotragus arkelli was first described L.S.B. Leakey in 1965 from the Olduvai Gorge (Bed IV) in Tanzania. The material assigned to the species consists of a cranium and horn cores.[1]

T. arkelli is regarded as the ancestor of the modern common eland.[2] In comparison to modern eland, T. arkelli shows what are considered primitive characteristics for the genus, such as a longer braincase and horn cores slightly more upright.[3]

References

  1. Leakey, L.S.B. (1965). Olduvai Gorge: Volume 1. Cambridge University Press. pp. 43-44. ISBN 052105527X. 
  2. Furstenburg, Deon (2016). Eland (Tragelaphus oryx). Briza Publications. pp. 173-179. 
  3. Bubenik, Anthony B. (2012). Horns, Pronghorns, and Antlers: Evolution, Morphology, Physiology, and Social Significance. Springer New York. p. 210. ISBN 9781461389668. 

Wikidata ☰ Q108391855 entry