Bos buiaensis

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Bos buiaensis
Temporal range: Pleistocene epoch
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Bovinae
Genus: Bos
Species:
B. buiaensis
Binomial name
Bos buiaensis
Martínez-Navarro et al., 2010

Bos buiaensis is an extinct species of cattle. [1] The species is known from a million year old skull fossil found at the archaeological site of Buya, Eritrea in 2003. [2] [3] [4] [5] It was reassembled by excavators from over one hundred shards. [6]

The fossil found at Buya had a wider and more robust cranium than those found in Pelorvis oldowayensis and Pelorvis turkanensis, fossils, but it was smaller than auroch skulls. [7] Like the Pelorvis fossils, it has less pronounced postorbital constriction than in auroch or Bos acutifrons fossils. The frontside of the eye sockets is located above backside edge of the last molar. This feature is characteristic of Pelorvis sensu stricto fossils. Although, its snout is just as high and wide as those of aurochs. [6] Its cranium contained pneumatic elements on its frontal side which extended to cover the occipital and parietal areas. [8] Its horns extend backward, before curving outwards, then forward and upward. It had a short and robust pedicle, and was stout at the apical. [6] Evidence of human activity was also found at the site, indicating that humans have been eating bull since the origins of the human species. [9] Another example of Bos buiaensis was unearthed at the Buya area. This fossil contained a nearly complete neurocranium with persevered occipital and parietal bones, as well as intact horns. Its features were similar to the 2003 Buya fossil. [10] [11] One Bos buiaensis fossil was unearthed in Gesher Benot Ya'aqov. [12] [13]

The fossils displayed characteristics of ancient Pleistocene African Pelorovis fossils and of Eurasian Auroch fossils. [14] [15] [16] Because of these shared characteristics, [17] some researchers considered it to be a chronospecies proving the evolution of the African Pelorovis genus into the modern bos genus. [6] [18] [19] Examples of this species found in areas such as Gesher Benot Ya'aqov may indicate that it evolved in Africa, and then spread out northwards. [12] [20]

This interpretation has been criticized by other scholars. Whereas cladograms showcase numerous morphological similarities between Pelorvis and Bos skeletons, [21] more detailed morphological analyses have suggested these creatures are more distinct. Indicating they are not biologically connected. [22] In all species of Bos the horns curve upwards, and in some species forwards. However, in Pelorvis fossils the horn cores are directed backwards. [23] There is also significantly less postorbital constriction present in Pelorvis skulls than in auroch skulls. Pelorvis metacarpal bones much shorter and more robust than those of Bos. [22] The eye sockets of Pelorvis skulls are also distinct from those of Bos. [24] Such morphological differences imply the species are not closely related. [25] Academics have argued that if the African Bos buiaensis species was the ancestor of all modern Eurasian bull species, it would mean that these animals evolved in Africa, not Asia. However, genetic evidence suggests that modern bull species evolved in Asia. [14] [26] The fossil record also showcases the presence of bulls in Eurasia prior to the date of the Bos buiaensis. [12] Which demonstrates that bulls were already present in that area in the world, and could not evolved from migrating Bos buiaensis. [25]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aurochs</span> Extinct species of large cattle

The aurochs is an extinct species of bovine, considered to be the wild ancestor of modern domestic cattle. With a shoulder height of up to 180 cm (71 in) in bulls and 155 cm (61 in) in cows, it was one of the largest herbivores in the Holocene; it had massive elongated and broad horns that reached 80 cm (31 in) in length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hippopotamidae</span> Family of mammals

Hippopotamidae is a family of stout, naked-skinned, and semiaquatic artiodactyl mammals, possessing three-chambered stomachs and walking on four toes on each foot. While they resemble pigs physiologically, their closest living relatives are the cetaceans. They are sometimes referred to as hippopotamids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bovinae</span> Subfamily of mammals

Bovines comprise a diverse group of 10 genera of medium to large-sized ungulates, including cattle, bison, African buffalo, water buffalos, and the four-horned and spiral-horned antelopes. The members of this group are classified into loose tribes rather than formal subgroups, as the evolutionary relationships within the groups are still uncertain. General characteristics include cloven hooves and usually at least one of the sexes of a species having true horns. The largest extant bovine is the gaur.

<i>Bos</i> Genus of wild and domestic cattle

Bos is a genus of bovines, which includes, among others, wild and domestic cattle.

<i>Megaloceros</i> Extinct genus of deer

Megaloceros is an extinct genus of deer whose members lived throughout Eurasia from the Pleistocene to the early Holocene. The type and only undisputed member of the genus, Megaloceros giganteus, vernacularly known as the "Irish elk" or "giant deer", is also the best known. Fallow deer are thought to be their closest living relatives. Megaloceros has been suggested to be closely related to other genera of "giant deer", like the East Asian genus Sinomegaceros, and the European Praemegaceros.

<i>Megantereon</i> Extinct genus of saber-toothed cat from North America, Eurasia and Africa

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Straight-tusked elephant</span> Extinct species of elephant native to Europe and West Asia

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<i>Hippopotamus gorgops</i> Extinct species of mammal

Hippopotamus gorgops is an extinct species of the genus Hippopotamus known from remains found in Northern Africa, Eastern Africa, and the Levant. One of the largest hippopotamus species, it first appeared during the late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene, and became extinct during the early Middle Pleistocene.

<i>Pelorovis</i> Extinct genus of cattle

Pelorovis is an extinct genus of African wild cattle which existed during the Pleistocene epoch. The best known species is Pelorovis oldowayensis from Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, from the Early Pleistocene. The species "Pelorovis" antiquus from the Late Pleistocene-Holocene has since been moved into Syncerus, the same genus as living African buffalo.

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<i>Bison latifrons</i> Extinct species of mammal

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<i>Xenocyon</i> Extinct subgenus of carnivores

Xenocyon is an extinct group of canids, either considered a distinct genus or a subgenus of Canis. The group includes Canis (Xenocyon) africanus, Canis (Xenocyon) antonii and Canis (Xenocyon) falconeri that gave rise to Canis (Xenocyon) lycanoides. The hypercarnivorous Xenocyon is thought to be closely related and possibly ancestral to modern dhole and the African wild dog, as well as the insular Sardinian dhole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian aurochs</span> Subspecies of mammals

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<i>Syncerus antiquus</i> Extinct species of buffalo

Syncerus antiquus is an extinct species of buffalo from the Late Pleistocene and Holocene of Africa. It was one of the largest species in its family, potentially weighing up to 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb). Due to this fact, it is sometimes known as the African giant buffalo. The time of its extinction is of debate; Syncerus antiquus either became extinct at the end of the Late Pleistocene about 12,000 years ago or during the Holocene, some 4,000 years ago.

<i>Hemibos</i> Extinct genus of mammal

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bubalina</span> Subtribe of bovines consisting of the true buffalo

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bovina (subtribe)</span> Subtribe of cattle

Bovina is a subtribe of the Bovini tribe that generally includes the two living genera, Bison and Bos. However, this dichotomy has been challenged recently by molecular work that suggests that Bison should be regarded as a subgenus of Bos. Wild bovinans can be found naturally in North America and Eurasia.

"Crocodylus" gariepensis is an extinct species of crocodile that lived in southern Africa during the Early Miocene about 17.5 million years ago (Ma). Fossils have been found along a bank of the Orange River in Namibia, near its border with South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buya, Eritrea</span> Archaeological site in Eritrea

Buya or Buia is an archaeological site in the Danakil Depression of Eritrea. It is known for the discovery of Madam Buya, a one million-year-old fossil of a Homo erectus skull. Two other expeditions in 2011 and 2012 also unearthed ancient hominid fossils at the site. Archaeologists have uncovered large quantities of animal fossils and lithic tools in the area.

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