Everything about Antilocapridae totally explained
Antilocapridae is a family of
artiodactyls endemic to
North America. Their closest
extant relatives are the
giraffids. Only one species, the
pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), is living today; all other members of the family are
extinct. The living pronghorn is a small
ruminant mammal resembling an antelope. It bears small, forked horns.
In most respects, antilocaprids resemble other ruminants. They have a complex, four-chambered stomach for digesting tough plant matter, cloven hooves, and a similar body shape to antelopes. Their horns resemble those of the
bovids, in that they've a true horny sheath, but, uniquely, they're shed outside the breeding season, and subsequently regrown.
Their lateral toes are even further diminished than in bovids, with the digits themselves being entirely lost, and only the
cannon bones remaining. Antilocaprids have the same
dental formula as most other ruminants:
The antilocaprids evolved in North America, where they filled a niche similar to that of the bovids that evolved in the Old World. During the
Miocene and
Pliocene, they were a diverse and successful group, with many different species. Some had horns with bizarre shapes, or had four, or even six, horns.
Species
- Subfamily Merycodontinae
- Genus Cosoryx
- Genus Meryceros
- Genus Merycodus
- Genus Paracosoryx
- Genus Ramoceros
- Genus Submeryceros
- Subfamily Antilocaprinae
Further Information
Get more info on 'Antilocapridae'.
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