Euceratherium
| Shrub-ox | |
|---|---|
| |
| Restoration | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Bovidae |
| Subfamily: | Caprinae |
| Tribe: | Ovibovini |
| Genus: | †Euceratherium Furlong & Sinclair, 1904 |
| Species: | †E. collinum
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Euceratherium collinum Furlong & Sinclair, 1904
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| Synonyms | |
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Genus level:
Species level:
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The shrub-ox (Euceratherium collinum) is an
epoch. It was the only species in the genus Euceratherium.
Taxonomy
Euceratherium was formally described in 1904.[1] The species is considered to be closely related to the living muskox, as well as extinct genera like Bootherium.[2]
Distribution
The earliest fossils of the genus are known from the Early Pleistocene of China, from which it is then suggested to have migrated into North America.[2]
Late Pleistocene shrub-ox remains are known from fossil finds spanning from what is now northern California to central Mexico. In the east of their range, they were distributed at least into Illinois.
Description
Euceratherium has been estimated to weight approximately 450 kilograms (990 lb).[3]
Ecology
On the basis of preserved dung pellets, it has been established that they were browsers with a diet of trees and shrubs.[4] They seem to have preferred hilly landscapes.
References
Further reading
- P. S. Martin: Quaternary Extinctions. The University of Arizona Press, 1984 ISBN 0-8165-1100-4
- Grundzüge der Faunen- und Verbreitungsgeschichte der Säugetiere, E. Thenius, 2.Auflage, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, 1980 ISBN 3-437-30312-0
External links
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