The shrub-ox (Euceratherium collinum) is an extinct species of ovibovinecaprine native to North America. It was the only species in the genus Euceratherium.
Euceratherium was one of the first bovids to enter North America. It appeared on the continent during the early Pleistocene (around 1.1 million years ago), long before the first bison arrived from Eurasia. It went extinct by ~13,000 years ago, just before the onset of the Younger Dryas. It was formally described in 1904.[1]
Taxonomy
It is possibly synonymous with Bootherium, although this is uncertain.[2] It was the only species in the genus Eurceratherium. Three other species of muskoxen inhabited North America during the Pleistocene era; in addition to the extant tundra muskox (Ovibos moschatus), the extinct Bootherium and Soergel's ox (Soergelia mayfieldi) and Giant muskox (Praeovibos priscus) were also present.
Distribution
Late Pleistocene shrub-ox remains are known from fossil finds spanning from what is now northern California to central Mexico. In the east of their range, they were distributed at least into Illinois.
Description
Euceratherium was massively built and in size between a modern American bison (Bison bison) and a muskox. A specimen was estimated to have a body mass of 607.5 kg (1,339 lb).[3]
Ecology
On the basis of preserved dung pellets, it has been established that they were browsers with a diet of trees and shrubs.[4] They seem to have preferred hilly landscapes.
References
^Furlong, E. L. & Sinclair, W. J. (1904). Preliminary description of Euceratherium collinum. University of California Publications, American Archaeology and Ethnology, 2:18.
^Bover, Pere; Llamas, Bastien; Thomson, Vicki A.; Pons, Joan; Cooper, Alan; Mitchell, Kieren J. (December 2018). "Molecular resolution to a morphological controversy: The case of North American fossil muskoxen Bootherium and Symbos". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 129: 70–76. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2018.08.008. PMID30121342.
^Kropf, M.; Mead, J. I.; Anderson, R. S. (January 2007). "Dung, diet, and the paleoenvironment of the extinct shrub-ox (Euceratherium collinum) on the Colorado Plateau, USA". Quaternary Research. 67 (1). Elsevier: 143–151. Bibcode:2007QuRes..67..143K. doi:10.1016/j.yqres.2006.10.002. Accessed 2008-08-19.
Further reading
P. S. Martin: Quaternary Extinctions. The University of Arizona Press, 1984 ISBN0-8165-1100-4
Grundzüge der Faunen- und Verbreitungsgeschichte der Säugetiere, E. Thenius, 2.Auflage, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, 1980 ISBN3-437-30312-0
