Pelorovis
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| Pelorovis Fossil range: Late Pliocene to Holocene |
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 Pelorovis antiquus, P. turkanensis & P. oldowayensis (from left to right)
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†Pelorovis antiquus |
Pelorovis ("Prodigious/Monstrous Ovis") was an extinct genus of African wild cattle, which first appeared in the Pliocene, 2.5 million years ago, and became extinct during the Holocene, some 4.000 years ago.
Pelorovis was related to the African buffalo and closely resembled it except for its long, curved horns. These were about 1 m (3 ft 4 in) long each; when covered with keratin the length could have been up to 3 m (6 ft 8 in). They pointed away from the head and formed a half circle each in the species Pelorovis oldowayensis and Pelorovis turkanensis. The horns of Pelorovis antiquus were also magnificent but resembled in shape more those of the recent Water buffalo (Bubalus). P. antiquus was even placed in the Genus Bubalus by early specialists. Pelorovis oldowayensis was broadly of the same size like 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 built 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 4000 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.
[edit] Literature
- Alan Turner & Mauricio Anton: Evolving Eden, An Illustrated Guide to the Evolution of the African Large-Mammal Fauna. Columbia University Press, New York 2004 ISBN 0-231-11944-5
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
