Prostrepsiceros cf. rotundicornis (Weithofer, 1888)

Kostopoulos, Dimitrios S. & Bernor, Raymond L., 2011, The Maragheh bovids (Mammalia, Artiodactyla): systematic revision and biostratigraphiczoogeographic interpretation, Geodiversitas 33 (4), pp. 649-708 : 676

Prostrepsiceros cf. rotundicornis (Weithofer, 1888) ( Fig. 16 )

Helicoceras rotundicorne Weithofer, 1888: 288 , pl. 18, figs 1-4.

REMARKS

A single isolated horn-core in MNHN.F ( Fig. 16A, B ) differs from the P. fraasi sample in its closer spiralling, tighter twisting, faster tapering, presence of a weak posterior keel associated with a furrow in the proximal part and some anterior grooving. The specimen lacks any indication of its insertion on the frontals and thus the orientation of its basal crosssection relatively to the sagittal plane is unknown. The horn-core proportions are 37.0 × 28.6 mm at the base and 21.8 × 28.0 mm at 7 cm above the base. These metrics imply less compressed horn-cores than in P. cf. vinayaki from Maragheh, which also differs in the stronger anterior keel. The specimen falls by its size within the lower values of P. houtumschindleri range but it is distinguished from it by the much weaker expressed posterior keel, the presence of anterior furrows and the less strong posterior curvature in side view. Most of MAR1832 characters compare very closely with those of P. rotundicornis from Pikermi ( Fig. 16C ) and Chomateri ( Roussiakis 2009), and is the most likely referral.

Figures

FIG. 16. — Prostrepsiceros cf.rotundicornis (Weithofer,1888) right horn-core (MNHN.F.MAR1832) from Maragheh in frontal (A) and caudal (B) views compared with Prostrepsiceros rotundicornis left horn-core (NHML M11438) from Pikermi in lateral view (C). Scale bar: 5 cm.