Tragoportax

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Tragoportax
Temporal range: Miocene
~11–7  Ma
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Tragoceros amaltheus.jpg
Horns of Tragoportax amalthea
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Bovinae
Tribe: Boselaphini
Genus: Tragoportax
Pilgrim, 1937
Type species
Tragoportax salmontanus [1]
Pilgrim, 1937
Species
  • T. acraeGentry, 1974
  • T. amaltheaRoth & Wagner, 1854
  • T. cyrenaicusThomas, 1979
  • T. eldaricusGabashvili, 1956
  • T. macedoniensisBouvrain, 1988
  • ?T. maiusMeladze, 1967
  • T. rugosifronsSchlosser, 1904
  • T. salmontanusPilgrim, 1937
  • T. persesOrak et al., 2023
Synonyms
  • TragocerusGaudry, 1861 [2] [3]
  • PontoportaxKretzoi, 1941 [3]
  • GazelloportaxKretzoi, 1941 [3]
  • MirabilocerusHadjiev, 1961 [3]
  • TragoceridusKretzoi, 1968 [3]
  • MesembriportaxGentry, 1974 [3]
  • MesotragocerusKorotkevich, 1982 [3]

Tragoportax is an extinct genus of bovid ungulate. It lived during the upper Miocene, and its fossils have been found in Europe, Asia and Africa. [4] Tragoportax is sometimes considered to have been a close relative of the extant nilgai, though it may have formed its own subfamily, along with Miotragocerus . [3]

Contents

Description

Species within the genus Tragoportax were sexually dimorphic, and were variable in size, although most were about the size of a red deer. [3]

Skull

The skull of Tragoportax had a short snout and elongated rear. The horns were large and curved backwards, and in some species (notably T. amalthea and T. perses) were twisted. The horns of females and young were smaller and thinner than those of adult males; in both sexes, the horns had a well-marked posterolateral keel and flat sides. The cross-section of the horns was usually triangular or subtriangular. Compared to those of the related Miotragocerus , the horns were less laterally compressed. [3]

Classification

The first fossils of Tragoportax were described in 1854 by Roth and Wagner under the name Capra amalthea, and a few years later Gaudry (1861) thought it appropriate to reclassify these fossils into a genus of their own (Tragocerus). The name Tragocerus, however, was preoccupied by a longhorn beetle, [5] and it was therefore necessary to rename the animal. In 1937, Guy Ellcock Pilgrim coined the generic name Tragoportax. [1]

Species

Several species are known from the genus Tragoportax: the type species is T. salmontanus, described by Guy Ellcock Pilgrim in 1937 on the basis of fossils found on the Siwaliks in Pakistan; [1] other well-known species are T. amalthea, well known thanks to several fossils found in the Greek deposit of Pikermi, and T. rugosifrons, widespread (Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine, Pakistan, Iran). Other lesser-known species are T. maius (a possible synonym of T. eldaricus) [3] of Georgia and Azerbaijan, T. cyrenaicus of Libya, T. macedoniensis of Greece and T. acrae of South Africa. The latter species may have been the last to disappear, in the early Pliocene, and was originally ascribed to a separate genus, Mesembriportax. Another well-known species often ascribed to Tragoportax is T. gaudryi, from various European deposits: however, this form has been reclassified as a species of the related genus Miotragocerus. [6] In 2023, a new species, Tragoportax perses, was described. [7]

Phylogeny

The classification of Tragoportax and its kin remains a matter of debate. It has commonly been assigned to the tribe Boselaphini, alongside the modern nilgai. [3] Bibi et al. (2009) suggested that modern boselaphines and their Miocene relatives should be separated, with Tragoportax being reassigned to the tribe Tragoportacini, [8] which also includes Miotragocerus. [8] [9]

Paleobiology

The long legs of Tragoportax indicate that this animal was cursorial, moving quickly across open, forested plains, and was probably also a good jumper. A 2004 study indicates that Tragoportax was strongly sexually dimorphic, based on the shape and size of the horns. [3] T. rugosifrons was a mixed feeder based on paired analysis of dental stable isotopes and microwear. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bovidae</span> Family of mammals belonging to even-toed ungulates

The Bovidae comprise the biological family of cloven-hoofed, ruminant mammals that includes cattle, yaks, bison, buffalo, antelopes, sheep and goats. A member of this family is called a bovid. With 143 extant species and 300 known extinct species, the family Bovidae consists of 11 major subfamilies and thirteen major tribes. The family evolved 20 million years ago, in the early Miocene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giraffidae</span> Family of mammals belonging to even-toed ungulates

The Giraffidae are a family of ruminant artiodactyl mammals that share a common ancestor with deer and bovids. This family, once a diverse group spread throughout Eurasia and Africa, presently comprises only two extant genera, the giraffe and the okapi. Both are confined to sub-Saharan Africa: the giraffe to the open savannas, and the okapi to the dense rainforest of the Congo. The two genera look very different on first sight, but share a number of common features, including a long, dark-coloured tongue, lobed canine teeth, and horns covered in skin, called ossicones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four-horned antelope</span> Small antelope from Asia (Tetracerus quadricornis)

The four-horned antelope, also called chousingha, is a small bovid antelope native to central, South and Western India, along with a smaller population in Nepal. The sole member of the genus Tetracerus, the chousingha was first described in 1816 by French zoologist Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville. Three regional subspecies are currently recognised. The four-horned antelope has a yellowish-tan, sometimes reddish or goldenrod coat. It is slender with thin legs and a short tail. It stands nearly 55–64 cm (22–25 in) at the shoulder and weighs about 17–22 kg (37–49 lb). Its four horns are unique among antelopes and distinguish it from most other bovids. The longer pair of straight, spike-like horns is atop its head between the ears, while the other, shorter pair is on the forehead; its posterior horns are always longer than the anterior horns, which may even present as merely fur-covered "studs". While the posterior horns measure 8–12 cm (3.1–4.7 in), the anterior ones are usually 2–5 cm (0.79–1.97 in) long.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nilgai</span> Largest living Asian antelope

The nilgai is the largest antelope of Asia, and is ubiquitous across the northern Indian subcontinent. It is the sole member of the genus Boselaphus, which was first described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1766. The nilgai stands 1–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft) at the shoulder; males weigh 109–288 kg (240–635 lb), and the lighter females 100–213 kg (220–470 lb). A sturdy thin-legged antelope, the nilgai is characterised by a sloping back, a deep neck with a white patch on the throat, a short crest of hair along the neck terminating in a tuft, and white facial spots. A column of pendant coarse hair hangs from the dewlap ridge below the white patch. Sexual dimorphism is prominent – while females and juveniles are orange to tawny, adult males have a bluish-grey coat. Only males possess horns, 15–24 cm (5.9–9.4 in) long.

<i>Antilope</i> Genus of mammals

Antilope is a genus of twisted-horn bovid that contains a single living species, the blackbuck of South Asia. Two extinct species are also known.

<i>Metailurus</i> Extinct genus of carnivores

Metailurus is a genus of saber-toothed cat in the family Felidae, and belonging to the tribe Metailurini, which occurred in North America, Eurasia and Africa from the Miocene to the Middle Pleistocene.

<i>Ancylotherium</i> Extinct genus of mammals

Ancylotherium is an extinct genus of the family Chalicotheriidae, subfamily Schizotheriinae, endemic to Europe, Asia, and Africa during the Late Miocene-Early Pleistocene, existing for approximately 9.8 million years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bovini</span> Tribe of cattle

The tribe Bovini or wild cattle are medium to massive bovines that are native to Eurasia, North America, and Africa. These include the enigmatic, antelope-like saola, the African and Asiatic buffalos, and a clade that consists of bison and the wild cattle of the genus Bos. Not only are they the largest members of the subfamily Bovinae, they are the largest species of their family Bovidae. The largest species is the gaur, weighing up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boselaphini</span> Tribe of mammals

Boselaphini is a tribe of bovines. It contains only two extant genera, each with a single extant species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tragelaphini</span> Tribe of antelopes

The tribe Tragelaphini, or the spiral-horned antelopes, are bovines that are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. These include the bushbucks, kudus, and the elands. The scientific name is in reference to the mythical creature the tragelaph, a Chimera with the body of a stag and the head of a goat. They are medium-to-large, tall, long-legged antelopes characterized by their iconic twisted horns and striking pelage coloration patterns.

<i>Eotragus</i> Extinct genus of mammals

Eotragus is an extinct genus of early bovid. Species belonging to the genus inhabited Europe, Africa, and Asia during the Miocene some 20-18 million years ago. It is related to the modern nilgai and four-horned antelope. It was small and probably lived in woodland environments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vallesian</span> Geologic period

The Vallesian age is a period of geologic time within the Miocene used more specifically with European Land Mammal Ages. It precedes the Turolian age and follows the Astaracian age. The so-called Vallesian Crisis resulted in the extinction of several mammalian taxa characteristic of the Middle Miocene.

<i>Ceratotherium neumayri</i> Extinct species of rhinoceros

Ceratotherium neumayri is a fossil species of rhinoceros from the Late Miocene (Vallesian-Turolian) of the Balkans and Western Asia, with remains known from Greece, Bulgaria, Iran, and Anatolia in Turkey.

<i>Miotragocerus</i> Extinct genus of antelope

Miotragocerus is an extinct genus of bovid that once lived in Europe in 12 to 8 million years ago. They were most likely browsers, according to their fossilized teeth and jaw shape. They were likely to have lived near bodies of water, such as many antelope species today.

<i>Enhydriodon</i> Extinct genus of carnivorans

Enhydriodon is an extinct genus of mustelids known from Africa, Pakistan, and India that lived from the late Miocene to the early Pleistocene. It contains nine confirmed species, two debated species, and at least a few other undescribed species from Africa. The genus belongs to the tribe Enhydriodontini in the otter subfamily Lutrinae. Enhydriodon means "otter tooth" in Ancient Greek and is a reference to its dentition rather than to the Enhydra genus, which includes the modern sea otter and its two prehistoric relatives.

<i>Microstonyx</i> Extinct genus of mammals

Microstonyx was an extinct genus of suid that existed during the Miocene in Asia and Europe.

<i>Testudo hellenica</i> Extinct species of tortoise

Testudo hellenica is an extinct genus of tortoise of the genus Testudo from the Miocene (Vallesian) Nea Messimvria Formation of Greece. T. hellenica is the earliest known crown-Testudo from Greece, since the next oldest Testudo species, T. marmorum, from Greece come from the Turolian Pikermi beds.

Boselaphus namadicus is an extinct species of bovid that lived in South Asia from the Late Pliocene to the Mid Pleistocene.

Palaeoreas was a genus of Miocene bovid from Europe.

Prostrepsiceros was a genus of bovid from the Miocene epoch.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Pilgrim G. 1937. - Siwalik antelopes and oxen in the American Museum of Natural History. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 72: 729-874.
  2. Gaudry A. 1861. - Résultats des fouilles exécutées en Grèce under the auspices of the Académie. Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences de Paris 52: 297-300.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Spassov N. & Geraads D. 2004. - Tragoportax Pilgrim, 1937 and Miotragocerus Stromer, 1928 (Mammalia, Bovidae) from the Turolian of Hadjidimovo, Bulgaria, and a revision of the late Miocene Mediterranean Boselaphini. Geodiversitas26 (2): 339-370.
  4. Solounias N. 1981. - The Turolian fauna from the Island of Samos, Greece with special emphasis on the Hyaenids and the Bovids. Contribution to Vertebrate Evolution 6: 1-232.
  5. Mindat.org: Tragocerus. mindat.org. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  6. D. S. Kostopoulos. 2016. Artiodactyla - Palaeontology of the upper Miocene vertebrate localities of Nikiti (Chalkidiki Peninsula, Macedonia, Greece). Geobios 49:119-234 [E. Vlachos/E. Vlachos/E. Vlachos]
  7. Orak, Zahra; Kostopoulos, Dimitri S.; Ataabadi, Majid M. (May 22, 2023). "Late Miocene large-sized Bovidae (Mammalia) from Dimeh, SW Iran: contribution to depositional diachrony and palaeobiogeography". Geobios.
  8. 1 2 Bibi, Faysal, Bukhsianidze, Maia, Gentry, Alan W., Geraads, Denis, Kostopoulos, Dimitris S., and Vrba, Elisabeth S., 2009. The Fossil Record and Evolution of Bovidae: State of the Field. Palaeontologia Electronica Vol. 12, Issue 3; 10A: 11p; http://palaeo-electronica.org/2009_3/169/index.html
  9. Qin-Qin Shi & Zhao-Qun Zhang (2023) New material of Miotragocerus (Bovidae, Artiodactyla) from northern China and its systematic implications, Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 21:1, doi : 10.1080/14772019.2023.2194891
  10. Merceron, Gildas; Zazzo, Antoine; Spassov, Nikolaï; Geraads, Denis; Kovachev, Dimitar (14 November 2006). "Bovid paleoecology and paleoenvironments from the Late Miocene of Bulgaria: Evidence from dental microwear and stable isotopes". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology . 241 (3–4): 637–654. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2006.05.005 . Retrieved 6 September 2024 via Elsevier Science Direct.