Rusingoryx

Rusingoryx is a genus of extinct alcelaphine bovid artiodactyl closely related to the wildebeest. It contains only one species, R. atopocranion, that lived on the plains of Kenya during the Pleistocene.[1] It was originally named as a species of Megalotragus.

Rusingoryx
Temporal range: 0.075–0.070 Ma
↓
Early Pleistocene – Late Pleistocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Alcelaphinae
Genus: †Rusingoryx
Pickford & Thomas, 1984
Species:
†R. atopocranion
Binomial name
†Rusingoryx atopocranion
Pickford & Thomas, 1984
Synonyms
  • Megalotragus atopocranion Gentry, 2010 (Pickford & Thomas, 1984)

Rusingoryx is known for its strange pointed nose with a large nasal dome. This structure represents an instance of convergent evolution with the crests of hadrosaurid dinosaurs, which were used for display and vocalization.[1][2][3] Studies have shown that the Rusingoryx is a specialized grazing animal, with a preference for arid grasslands.[4][2]

The first specimens, which were poorly preserved, were described in 1983, having been taken from a site called Bovid Hill on Rusinga Island in Lake Victoria.[3][5] Butchered bones found in 2011 with stone tools suggested that they had been killed by humans.[4][2] In 2016, remains of an additional 26 better preserved individuals were discovered.

References
  1. Haley D. O’Brien, J. Tyler Faith, Kirsten E. Jenkins, Daniel J. Peppe, Thomas W. Plummer, Zenobia L. Jacobs, Bo Li, Renaud Joannes-Boyau, Gilbert Price, Yue-xing Feng and Christian A. Tryon (2016). "Unexpected Convergent Evolution of Nasal Domes between Pleistocene Bovids and Cretaceous Hadrosaur Dinosaurs". Current Biology. 26 (4): 503–508. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.12.050. PMID 26853365.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  2. "Revealed: Rusingoryx, an ancient wildebeest cousin with bizarre dinosaur traits". The Guardian. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  3. "Pleistocene Mammal Rusingoryx atopocranion Had Dinosaur-Like 'Nose'". sci-news.com. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  4. Faith J. Tyler; et al. (2011). "Taxonomic status and paleoecology of Rusingoryx atopocranion (Mammalia, Artiodactyla), an extinct Pleistocene bovid from Rusinga Island, Kenya" (PDF). Quaternary Research. 75 (3): 697–707. doi:10.1016/j.yqres.2010.11.006.
  5. Gentry A. W. (2010) Bovidae, Cenozoic Mammals of Africa, 747-803


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