Profil taxonu
The body size is very large, similar to that of giant deer Megaloceros giganteus. The first ramification is situated quite close to the burr (the height of ramification is less than 2×DAP of antler base), flattened, bifurcated, with the vertical orientation of the flattened portion and the fork. The angle of the first ramification is obtuse. The cross-section of antler beam is circular. Pedicles are moderately long and somewhat deflected backwards, with a circular cross-section. Lower fourth premolar (P4) is simple. The relative length of lower premolars is relatively long: premolar/molar ratio normally exceeds 60%. Upper molars are supplemented with well-developed triangular entostyle, which is supplemented with a weak lingual cingulum at least in M3. Protoconal fold in upper molars is not present. Mandibular diastema is somewhat shorter than lower molar series. Metapodials are relatively long; the length of metacarpus is comparable with that of metatarsus.
The species is significantly larger than Rucervus sivalensis and Rucervus colberti from the Siwalik fauna. Rucervus gigans is distinguished from Rucervus radulescui by the significantly larger body size and the low position of the bifurcated first tine. The new species is distinguished from Praemegaceros pliotarandoides found in the same fauna, by the primitive unmolarized P4, the flattened and bifurcated first tine situated on the anterior side of the beam close to the burr (not cylinder-shaped, inserted on the anteromedial side of the beam as in Praemegaceros pliotarandoides), the absence of vestigial subbasal tine, the horizontal diastemal part of mandible (the symphisal part is not elevated as in Praemegaceros). Rucervus gigans is distinguished from Arvernoceros verestchagini by the lower position of its first tine, which is bifurcated, not extended into a small palmation and trifurcated as in the latter species.
Autor: Roman Croitor
Odkazy a literatura
http://www.mdpi.com/2571-550X/1/2/17
[jako Rucervus gigans]
CROITOR, R. 2018. A Description of Two New Species of the Genus Rucervus (Cervidae, Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Southeast Europe, with Comments on Hominin and South Asian Ruminants Dispersals. Quaternary, 1 (2), 17 p.
CROITOR, R. 2018. A Description of Two New Species of the Genus Rucervus (Cervidae, Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Southeast Europe, with Comments on Hominin and South Asian Ruminants Dispersals. Quaternary, 1 (2), 17 p.
Croitor, R.; Kostopoulos, D.S. On the Systematic Position of the Large-Sized Deer from Apollonia, Early Pleistocene, Greece. Palaeontol. Zeitsch. 2004, 78, 137–159, doi:10.1007/BF03009135 [jako Arvernoceros cf. verestchagini]
Kostopoulos, D.S. 1997. The Plio-Pleistocene artiodactyls (Vertebrata, Mammalia) of Macedonia 1. The fossiliferous site “Apollonia 1”, Mygdonia basin of Greece. Geodiversitas, 19, 845–875. [jako Megaloceros sp.]
GIGANS in Latin: giant, or the Giants, mythic race defeated by the Olympians.