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''Climacoceras'' (from Greek, "Ladder Horns") was a genus of early Miocene artiodactyl ungulates of Africa and Europe. The members of ''Climacoceras'' were related to giraffes, as the genus was once placed within Giraffidae. Fossils of the two best known species of ''Climacoceras'', ''C. africanus'' and ''C. gentryi'' have been both found in Kenya. The animals measured about 1.5 m in height and had large ossicones resembling antlers. ''C. africanus'' had ossicones resembling tall thorn-covered plant stems, while the ossicones of ''C. gentryi'' resembled thorny crescents. The genus was once placed within Palaeomerycidae, and then within Giraffidae, it is now considered a giraffoid and a new family, "Climacoceratidae," has been erected by Hamilton for this genus. Other Climacoceratidae include ''Prolibytherium'' from Egypt and Libya and ''Orangemeryx'' from Namibia and South Africa. ==References== * MacInnes, D. G. 1936, "A new genus of fossil deer from the Miocene of Africa", Journal of the Linnean Society, Zoology 39: 521-530. * Hamilton, W. R., 1978, "Cervidae and Palaeomerycidae", 495-508, in Maglio, V. J. & Cooke, H. B. S., (eds.) "Evolution of African mammals", Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts & London, England, 1978, xiv-641 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Climacoceras」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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