Hystrix refossa
Hystrix refossa is an extinct species of large porcupine that was widespread in Eurasia during the Pleistocene.
| Hystrix refossa Temporal range: Pleistocene | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Skull of Hystrix refossa | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Hystricidae |
| Genus: | Hystrix |
| Species: | †H. refossa |
| Binomial name | |
| †Hystrix refossa Gervais, 1852 | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Hystrix major | |
Taxonomy
Hystrix refossa was first described by palaeontologist Paul Gervais in 1852. Over the years, other large species of Hystrix have been described, including H. angressi from Israel[2] and H. gigantea of Java.[3] These forms are now considered synonymous with H. refossa.[1]
Description
Hystrix refossa was larger than living porcupines. It was approximately 20% larger than its closest relative, the living Indian porcupine (H. indica), reaching lengths of over 115 cm (45 in). It also differs from the Indian porcupine in having a high and narrow occipital region, in the anteriorly convergent arrangement of maxillary cheek-teeth series, and in its mandible and the cheek-teeth pattern.[2]
Paleoecology
The earliest remains of H. refossa are dated to the start of the Villafranchian and were found at the site of Milea, Grevena in northern Greece.[4] It presumably inhabited vegetated river banks within a mosaic of open and forested terrain under warm and humid conditions.
References
- Van Weers, D.J. (January 2005). "A taxonomic revision of the Pleistocene Hystrix (Hystricidae, Rodentia) from Eurasia with notes on the evolution of the family". Contributions to Zoology. 74 (3/4): 301–312. doi:10.1163/18759866-0740304007.
- Frenkel, Hanna (1970). "Hystrix angressi sp. nov. A large fossil porcupine from the Levalloiso-Mousterian of the Geula Cave". Israel Journal of Zoology. 19 (1): 51–82. doi:10.1080/00212210.1970.10688303 (inactive 1 August 2023). S2CID 82368682.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of August 2023 (link) - Van Weers, D.J. (1985). "Hystrix gigantea, a new fossil porcupine species from Java (Rodentia: Hystricidae)". Senckenbergiana Lethaea. 66 (1–2): 111–120.
- Lazaridis, G.; Tsoukala, E.; Maul, L.C. (2019). "The earliest Hystrix refossa: a new Early Villafranchian record from Milia (Grevena, Macedonia, Greece)". Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy. 30 (1): 12–18. doi:10.4404/hystrix-00140-2018.