Pelorovis

Skull of Pelorovis oldowayensis in the museum at Olduvai Gorge

Pelorovis was a large bovine species from the Pliocene, Pleistocene and Holocene of Africa. The genus stepped in front of around 2.5 million years ago for the first time and survived with Pelorovis antiquus in North Africa probably until about 4000 years. However, recent studies have come to the conclusion that the genus is not monophyletic. The early forms ( P. turkanensis and P. oldowayensis ) are apparently close to the modern genus Bos, and could already the first representatives of the authentics cattle represent. The late Pleistocene form ( Pelorovis antiquus ), however, work closely with the African buffalo ( Syncerus ) was apparently related.

Appearance

However Pelorovis resembled today's cattle, the horns exceeded in length that of most modern species. They could reach spans of up to 3 meters. In the horn shape both distinct differences from modern species, as well as between the different Pelorovis - styles are available. Pelorovis oldowayensis and Pelorovis turkanensis had curved downward curved horns that reminded of Pelorovis antiquus something to those of the present-day water buffalo (Bubalus ), so this species was found originally in the genus Bubalus.

Pelorovis oldowayensis was similar in size to a modern-day African Buffalo, however, came through the longer legs to a larger shoulder height. Characteristic of this type was mainly the elongated head, which is somewhat reminiscent of the today's hartebeest. Pelorovis antiquus was of similar size, but built more robust. The skull of this kind was also stretched not so long.

Species

So far the following species of the genus have been described:

• Pelorovis antiquus ( Duvernoy, 1851)
• Pelorovis turkanensis (Harris, 1991)
• Pelorovis oldowayensis ( Reck, 1928)

Dissemination

Pelorovis antiquus came even before 12,000 years before in Eastern and Southern Africa. A complete skeleton of the species comes from the region of Djelfa in Algeria. Fossil and archaeological evidence suggests that this species has lived in North Africa until about 4000 years.

Pelorovis oldowayensis lived until about 800,000 years ago in Africa south of the Sahara. The finds the best preserved were found in the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania.