On reconstructing Giraffa sivalensis, an extinct giraffid from the Siwalik Hills, India

dc.contributor.advisorMitchell, Graham
dc.contributor.authorVan Sittert, Sybrand J.
dc.contributor.authorMitchell, Graham
dc.date.accessioned2016-08-22T08:06:56Z
dc.date.available2016-08-22T08:06:56Z
dc.date.issued2015-08-20
dc.descriptionPoster presented at the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science Faculty Day, August 20, 2015, Pretoria, South Africa.en_ZA
dc.descriptionCreated in CoralDRAW X5 on 2015/07/22. PDF size: 12.32 MB.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractGiraffa sivalensis occurred during the Plio-Pleistocene and represents the terminal species of the genus in southern Asia. The holotype is a cervical vertebra of disputed anatomical location. Although there is also uncertainty as to this animal’s size, other specimens have been assigned to this species including fragments of two humeri, a radius, metacarpi and teeth. We estimated G. sivalensis neck length, leg length and body mass using interspecific and, unusually, ontogenetic allometry of extant giraffe skeletal parameters. The appropriateness of each equation to estimate body mass was evaluated through the prediction error incurred in both extant giraffes and okapis. It followed that the equations with the lowest prediction error in both species were considered robust enough to use in G. sivalensis. The size of G. sivalensis, based on the holotype, is proposed as 400 kg (range 228 kg - 575 kg), with a neck length of about 147 cm and a height of 390 cm. The molar lengths of tooth specimens considered agree with this size estimate. The humerus was the most appropriate long bone to establish body mass which estimates a heavier animal of ca 790 kg. The discrepancy with the vertebral body weight estimate might indicate sexual dimorphism. Radial and metacarpal specimens estimate G sivalensis to be as heavy as extant giraffes. This may indicate that the radius and metacarpus are unsuitable for body mass predictions in Giraffa spp. Alternatively, certain long bones may have belonged to another long legged giraffid that occurred during the same period and locality as G. sivalensis. We have concluded that if sexual dimorphism was present then males would have been about twice the size of females. If sexual dimorphism was not present and all bones were correctly attributed to this species, then G sivalensis had a slender neck with a relatively stocky body.en_ZA
dc.description.librarianab2016en_ZA
dc.format.extent1 poster : color photosen_ZA
dc.format.mediumPDF fileen_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/56431
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherPretoria : University of Pretoria. Faculty of Veterinary Science, Dept. of Production Animal Studiesen_ZA
dc.relation.ispartofseriesVeterinary Science Faculty Day posters 2015en_ZA
dc.relation.requiresAbode Acrobat readeren_ZA
dc.rights©University of Pretoria. Faculty of Veterinary Science (Original and digital). Provided for educational purposes only. It may not be downloaded, reproduced, or distributed in any format without written permission of the original copyright holder. Any attempt to circumvent the access controls placed on this file is a violation of copyright laws and is subject to criminal prosecution. Please contact the collection administrator for copyright issues.en_ZA
dc.subjectGiraffa sivalensisen_ZA
dc.subjectCervical vertebraeen_ZA
dc.subjectAnimal sizeen_ZA
dc.subjectBody massen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshVeterinary medicine -- Postersen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshGiraffidae, Fossilen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshGiraffeen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshGiraffidae
dc.subject.lcshSexual dimorphism (Animals)en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshCervical vertebraeen_ZA
dc.titleOn reconstructing Giraffa sivalensis, an extinct giraffid from the Siwalik Hills, Indiaen_ZA
dc.typePresentationen_ZA

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