Syncerus antiquus is an extinct species of buffalo from the Late Pleistocene and Holocene of Africa.[1] 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.[2][3]
Syncerus antiquus was described by Georges Louis Duvernoy in 1851 from a skull discovered along the Bou Sellam River near the city of Sétif, Algeria. It was found at one meter in depth, when excavating the foundations of a new mill, and subsequently sent to Paris.[1][4] Duvernoy believed this species to be closely related to the Asian water buffalo(Bubalus bubalis) and classified it as Bubalus antiquus. Several other fossils of S. antiquus were described under the names Bubalus bainii and Bubalus nilssoni.
In 1949, Dorothy Bate recognized that these buffaloes were conspecific and not related to Bubalus, so she placed these fossils in a new genus, Homoioceras.[5] However, the type species of Homoiceros was found to be synonymous with the living Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer), invalidating the genus. It was subsequently moved to Pelorovis in 1978.[6][7] However, a link with the living Cape buffalo has been noted based on morphological and systematic grounds, and since 1994 it has been suggested that P. antiquus be moved into Syncerus.[8] This proposal has since gained widespread acceptance.[3]
DescriptionEdit
Skull of Syncerus antiquus
Syncerus antiquus holds the distinction of being the largest bovid described from Africa.[3] According to Auguste Pomel, who was able to examine numerous fossils in Algeria, S. antiquus may have reached 3 metres (9.8 ft) in length from muzzle to the end of the tail, 1.85 metres (6.1 ft) in height at the withers, and 1.7 metres (5.6 ft) in height at the hindquarters.[4][9] The distance between the tips of its horns was as large as 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in).[4] It probably weighed about 1,200 kilograms (2,600 lb) on average, though the largest males could have potentially attained weights of up to 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb).[10]
One of the defining features of Syncerus antiquus are its massive horns. The largest horn cores can reach sizes of as much as 3 metres (9.8 ft) from tip to tip. The horns resembled those of the wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) in shape.[4]
DistributionEdit
This buffalo had the broadest geographic distribution of any recently extinct species of African bovid, being widespread throughout eastern, southern and northern Africa.[3] Material has been dated to the Late Pleistocene, between 107 and 13 ka.[11]
However, rock art from North Africa seemingly depicting Syncerus antiquus suggests that this species survived into the Holocene.[12] Possible fossils of S. antiquus have also been found in Holocene deposits.
PaleoecologyEdit
Restoration of Syncerus antiquus (far left)
Due to possessing such vast horns, it seems likely that Syncerus antiquus was limited to wide-open areas with few trees.[8] Isotopic and mesowear evidence indicate that it was a grazer, and its massive body size suggests that it consumed large quantities of low-quality forage.[13]
Judging from the rock art, it seems pairs of the male animals (testes are illustrated) would fight by ramming each other's horns with their heads lowered – this is illustrated numerous times. Rock art also suggests that it may have lived in large herds.[4]
Recent survival and extinctionEdit
Rock art of "great bubaline" from northern Africa, thought to depict S. antiquus
A large amount of rock art has been found illustrating the species Syncerus antiquus in the Maghreb, the Atlas, the Sahara and near to the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of North Africa. The art is found in a wide band stretching from Tunisia through Algeria to Morocco. This art not only indicates that the buffalo may have survived until recent times, it also indicates these animals were being actively hunted with spears, possibly by the first of the Berber peoples.[4]
Its extinction has been variously attributed to human predation, climatic change, or some combination of the two.[8]
^Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 ISBN0-8018-5789-9
^ abcdFaith, J. Tyler (2014). "Late Pleistocene and Holocene mammal extinctions on continental Africa". Earth-Science Reviews. 128: 105–121. doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2013.10.009.
^ abcdefCamps, Gabriel (1992). "Bubalus antiquus". In Camps, Gabriel (ed.). Encyclopédie Berbère (in French). Aix-en-Provence: Edisud. pp. 1642–1647. doi:10.4000/encyclopedieberbere.1875. from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
^Bate, Dorothea M.A. (1949). "A new African fossil long-horned buffalo". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 2 (17): 396–398. doi:10.1080/00222934908526730.
^Maglio, Vincent J.; Cooke, H. B. S., eds. (1978). Evolution of African Mammals. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. pp. 540–572. doi:10.4159/harvard.9780674431263. ISBN9780674431256.
^Martínez-Navarro, Bienvenido; Pérez-Claros, Juan Antonio; Palombo, Maria Rita; Rook, Lorenzo; Palmqvist, Paul (September 2007). "The Olduvai buffalo Pelorovis and the origin of Bos" (PDF). Quaternary Research. 68 (2): 220–226. Bibcode:2007QuRes..68..220M. doi:10.1016/j.yqres.2007.06.002. S2CID 55104027. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
^ abcKlein, Richard G. (November 1994). "The Long-Horned African Buffalo (Pelorovis antiquus) is an Extinct Species". Journal of Archaeological Science. 21 (6): 725–733. doi:10.1006/jasc.1994.1072.
^Pomel, Auguste (1893). Bubalus antiquus. Carte de Géologie de l’Algérie - Paléontologie Monographies de Vertébrés (in French). Algiers: imprimerie P. Fontana. pp. 1–94, pl.1-10. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.13867.
^Donald R. Prothero (2016). The Princeton Field Guide to Prehistoric Mammals. Princeton University Press. p. 184. ISBN9780691156828. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
^Klein, R.G. (1980). "Environmental and ecological implications of large mammals from Upper Pleistocene and Holocene sites in southern Africa". Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 81: 223–283. doi:10.1016/0033-5894(91)90019-2. S2CID 59359208.
^Gautier, A.; Muzzolini, A. (1991). "The life and times of the giant buffalo alias Bubalus/Homoioceras/Pelorovis antiquus in North Africa". Archaeozoologia. 4: 39–92.
^Codron, D. (2008). "The evolution of ecological specialization in southern African ungulates: competition or physical environmental turnover". Oikos. 117 (3): 334–353. doi:10.1111/j.2007.0030-1299.16387.x.
October 20, 2023
syncerus, antiquus, extinct, species, buffalo, from, late, pleistocene, holocene, africa, largest, species, family, potentially, weighing, kilograms, this, fact, sometimes, known, african, giant, buffalo, time, extinction, debate, either, became, extinct, late. Syncerus antiquus is an extinct species of buffalo from the Late Pleistocene and Holocene of Africa 1 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 2 3 Syncerus antiquusTemporal range Late Pleistocene HoloceneSkull of Syncerus antiquusScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder ArtiodactylaFamily BovidaeSubfamily BovinaeGenus SyncerusSpecies S antiquusBinomial name Syncerus antiquus Duvernoy 1851 SynonymsBubalus antiquus Bubalus bainii Bubalus nilssoni Homoioceras antiquus Pelorovis antiquus Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution 4 Paleoecology 5 Recent survival and extinction 6 ReferencesTaxonomy EditSyncerus antiquus was described by Georges Louis Duvernoy in 1851 from a skull discovered along the Bou Sellam River near the city of Setif Algeria It was found at one meter in depth when excavating the foundations of a new mill and subsequently sent to Paris 1 4 Duvernoy believed this species to be closely related to the Asian water buffalo Bubalus bubalis and classified it as Bubalus antiquus Several other fossils of S antiquus were described under the names Bubalus bainii and Bubalus nilssoni In 1949 Dorothy Bate recognized that these buffaloes were conspecific and not related to Bubalus so she placed these fossils in a new genus Homoioceras 5 However the type species of Homoiceros was found to be synonymous with the living Cape buffalo Syncerus caffer invalidating the genus It was subsequently moved to Pelorovis in 1978 6 7 However a link with the living Cape buffalo has been noted based on morphological and systematic grounds and since 1994 it has been suggested that P antiquus be moved into Syncerus 8 This proposal has since gained widespread acceptance 3 Description Edit nbsp Skull of Syncerus antiquusSyncerus antiquus holds the distinction of being the largest bovid described from Africa 3 According to Auguste Pomel who was able to examine numerous fossils in Algeria S antiquus may have reached 3 metres 9 8 ft in length from muzzle to the end of the tail 1 85 metres 6 1 ft in height at the withers and 1 7 metres 5 6 ft in height at the hindquarters 4 9 The distance between the tips of its horns was as large as 2 4 m 7 ft 10 in 4 It probably weighed about 1 200 kilograms 2 600 lb on average though the largest males could have potentially attained weights of up to 2 000 kilograms 4 400 lb 10 One of the defining features of Syncerus antiquus are its massive horns The largest horn cores can reach sizes of as much as 3 metres 9 8 ft from tip to tip The horns resembled those of the wild water buffalo Bubalus arnee in shape 4 Distribution EditThis buffalo had the broadest geographic distribution of any recently extinct species of African bovid being widespread throughout eastern southern and northern Africa 3 Material has been dated to the Late Pleistocene between 107 and 13 ka 11 However rock art from North Africa seemingly depicting Syncerus antiquus suggests that this species survived into the Holocene 12 Possible fossils of S antiquus have also been found in Holocene deposits Paleoecology Edit nbsp Restoration of Syncerus antiquus far left Due to possessing such vast horns it seems likely that Syncerus antiquus was limited to wide open areas with few trees 8 Isotopic and mesowear evidence indicate that it was a grazer and its massive body size suggests that it consumed large quantities of low quality forage 13 Judging from the rock art it seems pairs of the male animals testes are illustrated would fight by ramming each other s horns with their heads lowered this is illustrated numerous times Rock art also suggests that it may have lived in large herds 4 Recent survival and extinction Edit nbsp Rock art of great bubaline from northern Africa thought to depict S antiquusA large amount of rock art has been found illustrating the species Syncerus antiquus in the Maghreb the Atlas the Sahara and near to the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of North Africa The art is found in a wide band stretching from Tunisia through Algeria to Morocco This art not only indicates that the buffalo may have survived until recent times it also indicates these animals were being actively hunted with spears possibly by the first of the Berber peoples 4 Its extinction has been variously attributed to human predation climatic change or some combination of the two 8 References Edit a b Duvernoy Georges Louis December 1851 note sur une espece de buffle fossile Bubalis Arni antiquus decouverte en Algerie caracterisee et decrite par M Duvernoy Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des seances de l Academie des Sciences in French 33 595 597 Retrieved 31 August 2022 Ronald M Nowak Walker s Mammals of the World Johns Hopkins University Press 1999 ISBN 0 8018 5789 9 a b c d Faith J Tyler 2014 Late Pleistocene and Holocene mammal extinctions on continental Africa Earth Science Reviews 128 105 121 doi 10 1016 j earscirev 2013 10 009 a b c d e f Camps Gabriel 1992 Bubalus antiquus In Camps Gabriel ed Encyclopedie Berbere in French Aix en Provence Edisud pp 1642 1647 doi 10 4000 encyclopedieberbere 1875 Archived from the original on 18 July 2020 Retrieved 31 August 2022 Bate Dorothea M A 1949 A new African fossil long horned buffalo Annals and Magazine of Natural History 2 17 396 398 doi 10 1080 00222934908526730 Maglio Vincent J Cooke H B S eds 1978 Evolution of African Mammals Cambridge Harvard University Press pp 540 572 doi 10 4159 harvard 9780674431263 ISBN 9780674431256 Martinez Navarro Bienvenido Perez Claros Juan Antonio Palombo Maria Rita Rook Lorenzo Palmqvist Paul September 2007 The Olduvai buffalo Pelorovis and the origin of Bos PDF Quaternary Research 68 2 220 226 Bibcode 2007QuRes 68 220M doi 10 1016 j yqres 2007 06 002 S2CID 55104027 Retrieved 8 January 2020 a b c Klein Richard G November 1994 The Long Horned African Buffalo Pelorovis antiquus is an Extinct Species Journal of Archaeological Science 21 6 725 733 doi 10 1006 jasc 1994 1072 Pomel Auguste 1893 Bubalus antiquus Carte de Geologie de l Algerie Paleontologie Monographies de Vertebres in French Algiers imprimerie P Fontana pp 1 94 pl 1 10 doi 10 5962 bhl title 13867 Donald R Prothero 2016 The Princeton Field Guide to Prehistoric Mammals Princeton University Press p 184 ISBN 9780691156828 Retrieved 31 August 2022 Klein R G 1980 Environmental and ecological implications of large mammals from Upper Pleistocene and Holocene sites in southern Africa Ann S Afr Mus 81 223 283 doi 10 1016 0033 5894 91 90019 2 S2CID 59359208 Gautier A Muzzolini A 1991 The life and times of the giant buffalo alias Bubalus Homoioceras Pelorovis antiquus in North Africa Archaeozoologia 4 39 92 Codron D 2008 The evolution of ecological specialization in southern African ungulates competition or physical environmental turnover Oikos 117 3 334 353 doi 10 1111 j 2007 0030 1299 16387 x Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Syncerus antiquus amp oldid 1174658177, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
