''Praeovibos'', also known as the giant muskox, is an extinct genus of

bovid The Bovidae comprise the family (biology), biological family of cloven-hoofed, ruminant mammals that includes Bos, cattle, bison, Bubalina, buffalo, antelopes (including Caprinae, goat-antelopes), Ovis, sheep and Capra (genus), goats. A member o ...

that contains a single species, ''Praeovibos priscus''. It is closely related to the living

muskox The muskox (''Ovibos moschatus'') is a hoofed mammal of the family Bovidae. Native to the Arctic, it is noted for its thick coat and for the strong odor emitted by males during the seasonal rut, from which its name derives. This musky odor ha ...

(''Ovibos moschatus''), and is placed as a part of the same tribe

Ovibovini The subfamily Caprinae, also sometimes referred to as the tribe Caprini, is part of the ruminant family (biology), family Bovidae, and consists of mostly medium-sized bovids. A member of this subfamily is called a caprine. Prominent members in ...

Description

''Praeovibos priscus'' was larger than the modern muskox (''Ovibos moschatus)'' with a shoulder height of 130–165 cm and longer, more massive limbs.

Evolution, distribution and habitat

The earliest fossils of the genus date to the Early Pleistocene, around 1.5 million years ago. The giant muskox was widespread during the Pleistocene, ranging from western Europe to

Alaska Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...

and the Northern

Yukon Territory Yukon () is a territory of Canada, bordering British Columbia to the south, the Northwest Territories to the east, the Beaufort Sea to the north, and the U.S. state of Alaska to the west. It is Canada’s westernmost territory and the smallest ...

. During the Glacial Periods ''Praeovibus priscus'' lived in the upland together with reindeer (''Rangifer tarandus)'' and other alpine animals. This species also lived in open wooded or savanna-like habitat, however in

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

and

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

it has been found living in moist, temperate forests.Peter C. Lent (1999)
''Muskoxen and Their Hunters: A History''
University of Oklahoma Press. The youngest fossils date to the Last Glacial Period, less than 50,000 years ago.

Ecology

Analysis of specimens from the Early Pleistocene of Spain suggests that ''Praeovibos'' was primarily a grazer.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q54875504, from2=Q30673256 Pleistocene Artiodactyla Bovidae Monotypic prehistoric Artiodactyla genera