The extinct, giant giraffid Sivatherium giganteum: skeletal reconstruction and body mass estimation
Sivatherium giganteum is an extinct giraffid from the Plio–Pleistocene boundary of the Himalayan foothills. To date, there has been no rigorous skeletal reconstruction of this unusual mammal. Historical and contemporary accounts anecdotally state that Sivatherium rivalled the African elephant in terms of its body mass, but this statement has never been tested. Here, we present […]
On reconstructing Giraffa sivalensis, and extinct giraffid from the Siwalik Hills, India
Giraffa sivalensis occurred during the Plio-Pleistocene period and probably represents the terminal species of the genus in Southern Asia. The holotype is an almost perfectly preserved cervical vertebra of disputed anatomical location. Although there is also uncertainty regarding this animal’s size, other specimens that have been assigned to this species include fragments of two humeri, […]
Sivatherium – A Giraffid of the Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene
Silvertherium was a genus of giraffids that lived during the Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene. This genus is further described in this article.
On the origin, evolution and phylogeny of giraffes Giraffa camelopardalis
The origin, phylogeny, and evolution of modern giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) is obscure. We review here the literature and conclude that the proximate ancestors of modern giraffes probably evolved in southern central Europe about 8 million years ago (Mya). These ancestors appear to have arisen from the gelocid ancestral assemblage of 20–25 Mya via the family […]