Haploidoceros is an extinct genus of deer that lived in Europe during the Pleistocene. It contains a single species, Haploidoceros mediterraneus. It had a distribution limited to southern France and the Iberian Peninsula.[2]
| Haploidoceros Temporal range:
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Cervidae |
| Genus: | †Haploidoceros Croitor, Bonifay & Brugal, 2008[1] |
| Species: | †H. mediterraneus
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| Binomial name | |
| †Haploidoceros mediterraneus Bonifay, 1967
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| Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy
editHaploidoceros was described in 2008. Its remains were originally assigned to the genus Euctenoceros (now usually synonymous with Eucladoceros), though examination of the cranial proportions and morphology show it is distinct.[3] Analysis of its antlers has led some authors to suggest that it descended from the genus Arvernoceros, which is closely related and sometimes considered a subgenus of Rucervus, which contains the living barasinga.[4]
Description
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Haploidoceros was a medium-sized deer weighing around 70–80 kg (150–180 lb). Its hind limbs were especially well-developed, indicating it was a good jumper who possibly moved in a bounding gait. Its unique antlers were split into two beams adorned with a single tip at the end. The posterior beam was sickle-shaped, while the front beam was comparatively shorter and straighter.[4]
Paleoecology
editHaploidoceros favored temperate climates. It probably lived in forests to semi-open woodland.[5] Tooth wear (both dental microwear and mesowear) analysis suggests that it was a mixed feeder (both grazing and browsing), with a preference for browsing on leaves, similar to that of living European fallow deer (Dama dama).[5] It lived alongside a variety of other ungulates, such as equids, rhinoceroses, wild boar, aurochs and the straight-tusked elephant.[2]
Sites containing fossils of Haploidoceros mediterraneus are notable in their absence of fallow deer remains, despite the species being common in other nearby sites in the time period. It is believed that the niches of these deer were too similar for both to occupy the same area. Both species avoided competition by choosing different habitats; Haploidoceros favoring woodland and the fallow deer staying in more open areas.[2]
Extinction
editThe oldest Haploidoceros remains are from the late Middle Pleistocene, dated to 400–300,000 years ago.[6] The youngest remains are from Cova del Rinoceront in Spain, dating to the early Late Pleistocene, between 74 and 130,000 years ago.[3] Its extinction may have been due to competition with recently arrived fallow deer, along with climate change following the onset of the Last Glacial Period[3]
References
edit- ^ Roman Croitor. Plio-Pleistocene Deer of Western Palearctic: Taxonomy, Systematics, Phylogeny.Ion Toderaș. Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, 2018, 978-9975-66-609-1.ffhal-01737207f
- ^ a b c Sanz, M.; Daura, J.; Brugal, J-P. (2014). "First occurrence of the extinct deer Haploidoceros in the Iberian Peninsula in the Upper Pleistocene of the Cova del Rinoceront (Castelldefels, Barcelona)". Comptes Rendus Palevol. 13 (1): 27–40. Bibcode:2014CRPal..13...27S. doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2013.06.005.
- ^ a b c Croitor, R.; Bonifay, M-F.; Brugal, J-P. (2008). "Systematic revision of the endemic deer Haploidoceros n. gen. mediterraneus (BONIFAY, 1967) (Mammalia, Cervidae) from the Middle Pleistocene of Southern France". Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 82 (3): 325–346. doi:10.1007/BF02988899. S2CID 129837227.
- ^ a b Croitor, R.; Sanz, M.; Daura, J. (2018). "The endemic deer Haploidoceros mediterraneus (Bonifay) (Cervidae, Mammalia) from the Late Pleistocene of Cova del Rinoceront (Iberian Peninsula): origin, ecomorphology, and paleobiology". Historical Biology. 32 (3): 409–427. doi:10.1080/08912963.2018.1499018. S2CID 92318533.
- ^ a b Rivals, F.; Sanz, M.; Daura, J. (2016). "First reconstruction of the dietary traits of the Mediterranean deer (Haploidoceros mediterraneus) from the Cova del Rinoceront (NE Iberian Peninsula)". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 449: 101–107. Bibcode:2016PPP...449..101R. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.02.014.
- ^ Croitor, Roman; Sanz, Montserrat; Daura, Joan (2019-12-01). "Deer remains from the Middle Pleistocene site of Gruta da Aroeira (Portugal): Iberian faunal endemism and implications for hominin paleobiogeography". Quaternary Science Reviews. 225: 106022. doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.106022.