Pelorovis
Encyclopedia
Pelorovis is an extinct genus
of Africa
n wild cattle
, which first appeared in the Pliocene
, 2.5 million years ago., and became extinct at the end of the Late Pleistocene about 12.000 years ago or even during the Holocene
, some 4,000 years ago. Surprisingly, recent detailed anatomical and morphometric studies come to the conclusion, that Pelorovis is probably not monophyletic. According to this findings, the early forms of the genus (P. turkanensis und P. oldowayensis) are close relatives, and possibly the first members, of the genus Bos
. In contrast, the late Pleistocene form (Pelorovis antiquus) seems to be a close relative of the modern African buffalo
(Syncerus caffer).
Pelorovis resembled an African buffalo
, except for its long, curved horn
s. The bony cores of the horns were each about 1 metres (3.3 ft) long; when covered with keratin
(which does not survive fossilisation) they could have been up to twice this length. The horns pointed away from the head, each forming a half circle in the species Pelorovis oldowayensis and Pelorovis turkanensis.
The horns of Pelorovis antiquus were also magnificent but resembled in shape more those of the Water buffalo
(Bubalus). P. antiquus was even placed in the Genus Bubalus by early specialists. Pelorovis oldowayensis was broadly the same size as modern African buffalo, but its legs were longer, and the elongated head of this species was reminiscent to those of the modern Alcelaphinae
. Pelorovis antiquus was about the same size, but it was more robust.
Pelorovis antiquus disappeared around 12,000 years ago from southern and eastern Africa. Fossil and archaeological evidence indicates, that this species lived in north Africa until 4,000 years ago. Pelorovis oldowaywensis occurred in sub-saharan Africa and disappeared 800,000 years ago.
The best fossils of Pelorovis oldowayensis are known from the Olduvai Gorge
in Tanzania
, a complete skeleton of Pelorovis antiquus was found near Djelfa
in Algeria.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n wild cattle
Bovinae
The biological subfamily Bovinae includes a diverse group of 10 genera of medium to large sized ungulates, including domestic cattle, the bison, African buffalo, the water buffalo, the yak, and the four-horned and spiral-horned antelopes...
, which first appeared in the Pliocene
Pliocene
The Pliocene Epoch is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5.332 million to 2.588 million years before present. It is the second and youngest epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Miocene Epoch and is followed by the Pleistocene Epoch...
, 2.5 million years ago., and became extinct at the end of the Late Pleistocene about 12.000 years ago or even during the Holocene
Holocene
The Holocene is a geological epoch which began at the end of the Pleistocene and continues to the present. The Holocene is part of the Quaternary period. Its name comes from the Greek words and , meaning "entirely recent"...
, some 4,000 years ago. Surprisingly, recent detailed anatomical and morphometric studies come to the conclusion, that Pelorovis is probably not monophyletic. According to this findings, the early forms of the genus (P. turkanensis und P. oldowayensis) are close relatives, and possibly the first members, of the genus Bos
Bos
Bos is the genus of wild and domestic cattle. Bos can be divided into four subgenera: Bos, Bibos, Novibos, and Poephagus, but these divisions are controversial. The genus has five extant species...
. In contrast, the late Pleistocene form (Pelorovis antiquus) seems to be a close relative of the modern African buffalo
African Buffalo
The African buffalo, affalo, nyati, Mbogo or Cape buffalo is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo, but its ancestry remains unclear...
(Syncerus caffer).
Description
African Buffalo
The African buffalo, affalo, nyati, Mbogo or Cape buffalo is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo, but its ancestry remains unclear...
, except for its long, curved horn
Horn (anatomy)
A horn is a pointed projection of the skin on the head of various animals, consisting of a covering of horn surrounding a core of living bone. True horns are found mainly among the ruminant artiodactyls, in the families Antilocapridae and Bovidae...
s. The bony cores of the horns were each about 1 metres (3.3 ft) long; when covered with keratin
Keratin
Keratin refers to a family of fibrous structural proteins. Keratin is the key of structural material making up the outer layer of human skin. It is also the key structural component of hair and nails...
(which does not survive fossilisation) they could have been up to twice this length. The horns pointed away from the head, each forming a half circle in the species Pelorovis oldowayensis and Pelorovis turkanensis.
The horns of Pelorovis antiquus were also magnificent but resembled in shape more those of the Water buffalo
Wild Asian Water Buffalo
The wild water buffalo also called Asian buffalo and Asiatic buffalo is a large bovine native to Southeast Asia...
(Bubalus). P. antiquus was even placed in the Genus Bubalus by early specialists. Pelorovis oldowayensis was broadly the same size as modern African buffalo, but its legs were longer, and the elongated head of this species was reminiscent to those of the modern Alcelaphinae
Alcelaphinae
The subfamily Alcelaphinae contains Wildebeest, Hartebeest, Bonteboks and several similar species. All in all it contains 10 species in 4 genera, although Beatragus is sometimes considered a subgenus of Damaliscus, and Sigmoceros for the Lichtenstein's Hartebeest.* Family Bovidae** Subfamily...
. Pelorovis antiquus was about the same size, but it was more robust.
Pelorovis antiquus disappeared around 12,000 years ago from southern and eastern Africa. Fossil and archaeological evidence indicates, that this species lived in north Africa until 4,000 years ago. Pelorovis oldowaywensis occurred in sub-saharan Africa and disappeared 800,000 years ago.
The best fossils of Pelorovis oldowayensis are known from the Olduvai Gorge
Olduvai Gorge
The Olduvai Gorge is a steep-sided ravine in the Great Rift Valley that stretches through eastern Africa. It is in the eastern Serengeti Plains in northern Tanzania and is about long. It is located 45 km from the Laetoli archaeological site...
in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, a complete skeleton of Pelorovis antiquus was found near Djelfa
Djelfa
Djelfa is the capital city of Djelfa province, Algeria. It has a population of 154,265 . The city lies at the junction of the N1 and the N46....
in Algeria.