| Palaeotragus Temporal range: Miocene |
|
|---|---|
| Comparison of Palaeotragus with Climacoceras | |
| Conservation status | |
|
Fossil
|
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Giraffidae |
| Subfamily: | Palaeotraginae |
| Genus: | Palaeotragus |
| Species | |
|
P. primaevus |
|
Palaeotragus ("Ancient Antelope") was a genus of very large, primitive okapi from the Miocene of Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Palaeotragus primaevus is the older species, being found in early to mid-Miocene strata, while Palaeotragus germaini is found in Late Miocene strata.
P. primaevus is distinguished from P. germaini by having no pair of ossicones. It was also the smaller species, being a little under 2 metres at the shoulders. P. germaini had a pair of ossicones, and in life, it would have resembled either a short-necked, 3 metre tall giraffe, or a gargantuan okapi.