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: Early Pleistocene – Late Pleistocene
Rusingoryx drinking
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
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; 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.
  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. Bibcode:2011QuRes..75..697F. doi:10.1016/j.yqres.2010.11.006. S2CID 17630698.
  5. Gentry A. W. (2010) Bovidae, Cenozoic Mammals of Africa, 747-803


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