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One of several species of Bison that lived during the Quaternary,
the steppe bison ranged across the northern parts of both the
Old and New Worlds. The steppe bison was similar to living bison,
but somewhat larger with relatively longer hindlegs and a second
"hump" on its back. This species was frequently depicted
by Old World Paleolithic artists. Remains of varying ages have
been found in human habitation sites in Europe, Siberia, and northern
North America. Bison priscus presumably became extinct around
11,000 years ago according to "high quality" radiocarbon
dates, although some researchers believe that this species survived
until about 8,000 years ago in favorable habitat in mid-latitude
North America. See also: Guthrie, R. D., 1990. Frozen Fauna of the Mammoth Steppe: the Story of Blue Babe. University of Chicago Press: Chicago. |
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The cave goat is frequently encountered in Pleistocene and early
Holocene levels in cave sites in the Balearic Islands in the western
Mediterranean. These small goats, related to the extant chamois
(Rupicapra), were remarkably variable in skeletal features, including
limb length and craniodental anatomy. There is suggestive evidence
that this endemic island species was kept in some form of domestication
by humans, making it one of the very few species to have gone
extinct (about 5,000 years ago) after being domesticated by Homo!
See also: Waldren, W.H., nd. Myotragus balearicus, an extinct Pleistocene antelope from the island of Mallorca. DAMARC 20: 1-52. |
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This American camel roamed widely across western North America;
evidence of this species has been found as far south as Mexico
and as far north as Alaska. C. hesternus was a member of a group
that was intermediate between llamas and true camels. A large
animal (about 1,300 lb) with a single hump, it resembled the present-day
dromedary but was taller, with limbs which were about 20% longer
than in the living species. While it has been found in association
with evidence of human presence in some areas, no kill sites have
been reported. The terminal-date estimates range from about 8,240
to 12,600 years ago, although "high quality" radiocarbon
dates suggest that it had disappeared by 11,000 years ago. See also: Beck, M., 1996. On discerning the cause of late Plesitocene megafaunal extinctions. Paleobiology 22:91-103. |
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This species of long-legged llama was distributed across the lower
part of North America, where the group originated. By the early
Pleistocene these llamas had crossed the Panamanian landbridge
and reached southeastern South America, where they gave rise to
the existing vicuna (Vicugna) and modern llama (Lama) . Llamas
differ from camels in several details, the most apparent of which
is the absence of the camel's characteristic dorsal hump.
Larger than any present-day llamas, Hemiauchenia survived until
the end of the Pleistocene according to radiometric results from
several sites in the southwest. There have been no reports of
remains being found in association with human artifacts or occupation
horizons. See also: Webb, S. D., 1974. Pleistocene llamas of Florida, with a brief review of the Lamini. In S. D. Webb (ed.), Pleistocene Mammals of Florida. University Presses of Florida: Gainesville. |
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