Palaeotragus ("ancient goat") is a genus of very large, primitive, okapi-like giraffids from the Miocene of Africa and Eurasia.

Palaeotragus primaevus is the older species, being found in early to mid-Miocene strata, while P. germaini is found in Late Miocene strata. P. primaevus is distinguished from P. germaini by the lack of ossicones. It was also the smaller species, being a little under at the shoulders. P. germaini had a pair of ossicones, and in life, it would have resembled either a short-necked, tall giraffe, or a gargantuan okapi.

Palaeotragus

Species

The genus consists of the following species:

Palaeotragus

Palaeotragus decipiens

Palaeotragus germaini

Palaeotragus microdon

Palaeotragus primaevus

Palaeotragus quadricornis

Palaeotragus. rouenii

References

Further reading

External links

Miocene mammals of Europe

Prehistoric giraffes

Miocene even-toed ungulates

Miocene genus extinctions

Prehistoric even-toed ungulate genera

Miocene mammals of Asia

Miocene mammals of Africa

Fossil taxa described in 1861

Palaeotragus