Hippopotamus gorgops

Hippopotamus gorgops is an extinct species of hippopotamus. It first appeared in Africa during the late Pliocene, and eventually migrated into Europe during the early Pleistocene (where its fossils were first discovered). It became extinct during the Middle Pleistocene.[1] Fossil records found at Ubeidiya, Israel suggested that they migrated out of Africa around 1.6 million years ago.[2] Some have speculated that H. gorgops and H. behemoth are actually the same species given their similar sizes and where they have been found [3]

Hippopotamus gorgops
Temporal range: Late Pliocene–Middle Pleistocene
↓
[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Hippopotamidae
Genus: Hippopotamus
Species:
†H. gorgops
Binomial name
†Hippopotamus gorgops
Dietrich, 1928

Taxonomy
Model
Skull

With an estimated length of 4.3 metres (14 ft), a shoulder height of 2.1 metres (6.9 ft), and a weight of 3900-4500 kg (8600-9900 lb), H. gorgops was larger than its living relative, H. amphibius. Another feature setting it apart from H. amphibius was the placement of its eyes. Modern hippos have eyes placed high on the skull, but H. gorgops had eyestalk-like orbits extruding above its skull, making it even easier for the creature to see its surroundings while (almost) fully under water.[4] This species was described by German scientist Wilhelm Otto Dietrich in 1928.[5]

References
  1. Turner, Alan. National Geographic Prehistoric Mammals. National Geographic, 2004.
  2. TCHERNOV, E (1986). "Les mammifères du Pleistocène inférieur de la vallée du Jourdain à Oubeidiyeh". Israel J. Earth Sci. 36: 3–36.
  3. Martínez-Navarro, B (2010). "The fossil Bovidae (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from Gesher Benot Ya'aqov, Israel: Out of Africa during the early-middle Pleistocene transition" (PDF). J. Hum. Evol. 60: 375–386 – via Research Gate.
  4. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 268. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
  5. Dietrich, W. O. (1928). Pleistocäne Deutsch–Ostafrikanische Hippopotamus–reste. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse des Oldoway Expedetion Herausgeben Von Prof. Dr. Reck, 3: 3–41.
  • Petronio, C. (1995): Note on the taxonomy of Pleistocene hippopotamuses. Ibex 3: 53–55. PDF fulltext


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