Leptobos is an extinct genus of large bovine, known from the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene of Eurasia, extending from the Iberian Peninsula to northern China.[1] Species of Leptobos weighed on average 320 kilograms (710 lb).[2] The dietary preference across the genus includes species that were browsers,[3] grazers[4] and mixed feeders (both browsing and grazing).[5] The first appearance of Leptobos in Europe around 3.6-3.5 million years ago is considered to define the beginning of the Villafranchian European faunal stage.[6] Leptobos is considered to be closely related to the insular genus Epileptobos from the Pleistocene of Java[7], and is considered to be ancestral to Bison.[1][8] Leptobos became extinct after being replaced by their descendant Bison during the Early Pleistocene, after a period of temporal overlap.[1][8] "Leptobos" syrticus from Libya likely belongs in a different genus.[7]
Leptobos Temporal range: Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene
| |
---|---|
Skeleton of Leptobos etruscus | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Artiodactyla |
Family: | Bovidae |
Subfamily: | Bovinae |
Genus: | †LeptobosRütimeyer, 1878 |
Species | |
See text |