Family of the Week: The Antelope
During the Cenozoic, all antelope were classified in the family Bovidae. Though these animals in the Metazoic are called antelope, and have pretty much the same lifestyle, they are not exactly the same as Cenozoic antelope. They are however, an off-shoot and in a family of their own, the Megalodorcidae. It is closely related to the modern antelope family, but has some characteristics that are different. The horns being the main thing. Unlike Bovid horns, Megalodorcid horns can branch out into several prongs, looking a bit more like deer antlers than like the horns of bovids. Especially in the sub-family Megalodorcinae, which contains several large and bulky species. The feet are fully hooved, most species are vegetarians, though there are some that are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of small creatures like insects, lizards, mice and earthworms. The ears for the most part are large and highly mobile. The eyes are large and placed on the sides of the head. The males have horns, though in some species the females also have horns. All species are good runners. Though the species in the sub-family Pygarginae are also great leapers, just like modern antelope. The tail varies in size, but in most species it is rather short.
The size also varies from species to species. The largest member of the family are in the genus Valudorsum. This animal is as big as a city bus, and weighs a whopping 18 tons. The horns extend about 10 feet from the head. The head it's self is short and blunt. The fur lies very short and smooth. The eyes are relatively small and round, though the eyesight is very good. This species is unique in that it also has a large "sail" on the back. A structure on the back above the shoulders that is tall and flat. The sail it's self is about 10 feet high over the shoulders. This helps the animal regulate it's body temperature. Together at it's highest point, the animal stands an incredible 25-feet tall. They live in small herds, much like elephants. They are also slow reproducers. They are also very slow movers. Their enormous bulk makes it nearly impossible for these animals to run and leap like modern antelope. The second largest member of this family belong in the genus Megalodorcas, which the largest species are nearly as big as Valudorsum.
The smallest species in this family are in the genus Tapimimus. These tiny antelope sort of resemble modern dik-diks, only the nose droops slightly more, and they have sharp tusks that extend outwards from the mouth. The smallest stand no more than 12 inches high at the shoulders. The ears are large and very mobile, the tail is short, though not too short. The legs are long and slender. These animals are good runners and jumpers. They live in couples and shelter under bushes or even in underground burrows abandoned by other animals. But they usually just prefer to stay out of view. The couples of Tapimimus usually stay together for life. They are active during the day and rely on their sharp eyesight and hearing to detect danger. The second smallest members of the family belong in the genus Otopygus. Though they are small antelope, about 15 inches tall at the shoulders, Otopygus has the largest ears in the family. This is due to the fact they live in some of the hottest and driest climate in the Metazoic. These large ears also give them superior hearing abilities.
Many species of Metazoic antelope have unusual horns. The strangest belong in the genus Lawrencia (named for my sister and her family). The horns of this species are located lower than the eyes on the nasal of the snout. This gives the males an advantage during the rut, they can swaft their horns at rivals, and still keep their eyes on their quarry, in case another male attacks them from another side. This has required special adaptations to the nose and horns. The bone around the nasal is stronger and thicker than it is in other antelope.
Antelope are, always have been, and forever will be among the most victimized animals in their range. Today they are taken down by any predator big and strong enough to take them. In the Metazoic, it is much the same story. Deinognathids, large viverrids, weasels, snakes, predatory bats, crocodiles, bear-dogs, carnivorous pentadactyls and predatory rats and dormice all will prey on any species of antelope in the Metazoic. Different species specialize in certain antelope species. For example, some large deinognathids specialize in bringing down Megalodorcas, or some other large antelope. Some don't care, they attack any species. Such as Castosarchus, a carnivorous ape, will eat any antelope species from Megalodorcas to Tapimimus. The antelope's only defense is speed. Many species can run at speeds faster than 60 MPH. Though the largest species like Valudorsum and Megalodorcas are relatively slow, and can use their horns and size for defense.
The antelope page is up on my site. They can be viewed at http://www.metazoica.com/antelope.html.
The size also varies from species to species. The largest member of the family are in the genus Valudorsum. This animal is as big as a city bus, and weighs a whopping 18 tons. The horns extend about 10 feet from the head. The head it's self is short and blunt. The fur lies very short and smooth. The eyes are relatively small and round, though the eyesight is very good. This species is unique in that it also has a large "sail" on the back. A structure on the back above the shoulders that is tall and flat. The sail it's self is about 10 feet high over the shoulders. This helps the animal regulate it's body temperature. Together at it's highest point, the animal stands an incredible 25-feet tall. They live in small herds, much like elephants. They are also slow reproducers. They are also very slow movers. Their enormous bulk makes it nearly impossible for these animals to run and leap like modern antelope. The second largest member of this family belong in the genus Megalodorcas, which the largest species are nearly as big as Valudorsum.
The smallest species in this family are in the genus Tapimimus. These tiny antelope sort of resemble modern dik-diks, only the nose droops slightly more, and they have sharp tusks that extend outwards from the mouth. The smallest stand no more than 12 inches high at the shoulders. The ears are large and very mobile, the tail is short, though not too short. The legs are long and slender. These animals are good runners and jumpers. They live in couples and shelter under bushes or even in underground burrows abandoned by other animals. But they usually just prefer to stay out of view. The couples of Tapimimus usually stay together for life. They are active during the day and rely on their sharp eyesight and hearing to detect danger. The second smallest members of the family belong in the genus Otopygus. Though they are small antelope, about 15 inches tall at the shoulders, Otopygus has the largest ears in the family. This is due to the fact they live in some of the hottest and driest climate in the Metazoic. These large ears also give them superior hearing abilities.
Many species of Metazoic antelope have unusual horns. The strangest belong in the genus Lawrencia (named for my sister and her family). The horns of this species are located lower than the eyes on the nasal of the snout. This gives the males an advantage during the rut, they can swaft their horns at rivals, and still keep their eyes on their quarry, in case another male attacks them from another side. This has required special adaptations to the nose and horns. The bone around the nasal is stronger and thicker than it is in other antelope.
Antelope are, always have been, and forever will be among the most victimized animals in their range. Today they are taken down by any predator big and strong enough to take them. In the Metazoic, it is much the same story. Deinognathids, large viverrids, weasels, snakes, predatory bats, crocodiles, bear-dogs, carnivorous pentadactyls and predatory rats and dormice all will prey on any species of antelope in the Metazoic. Different species specialize in certain antelope species. For example, some large deinognathids specialize in bringing down Megalodorcas, or some other large antelope. Some don't care, they attack any species. Such as Castosarchus, a carnivorous ape, will eat any antelope species from Megalodorcas to Tapimimus. The antelope's only defense is speed. Many species can run at speeds faster than 60 MPH. Though the largest species like Valudorsum and Megalodorcas are relatively slow, and can use their horns and size for defense.
The antelope page is up on my site. They can be viewed at http://www.metazoica.com/antelope.html.
I assume these antelope are duiker descendants...
ReplyDeleteOh, and you spelled Castosarchus wrong. Casto- means to cut, the beaver was called castor because it was thought to rip its genitalia off and throw them at people. Putting castro- in there seems like you're honoring the Cuban dictator.
ReplyDeleteWell, I thought at first of branching them from smaller antelope, but duiker makes sense.
ReplyDelete"and you spelled Castosarchus wrong"
Oops. Forgive me, it's still a new name to me.
Well, the duikers have the biggest (and by biggest I mean most advanced) brains among the antelope, and they are also the only antelopes to regularly eat frogs, lizards, small mammals, and birds. Plus, they are very small, except for one aberrant species.
ReplyDelete