- Source: Dama clactoniana
Dama clactoniana is an extinct species of fallow deer (genus Dama). It lived during the Middle Pleistocene (with fossils spanning around 500-300,000 years ago). It is widely agreed to be the Dama species most closely related and likely ancestral to the two living species of fallow deer (being sometimes treated as a subspecies of Dama dama as Dama dama clactoniana) and like them has palmate antlers.
Description
While the size of the species is variable, specimens tend to be on average larger than both living fallow deer species. The fourth lower premolar is not molarized. Unlike earlier species of Dama and like living fallow deer, the antlers are palmate, with the palmation being narrower than in living European fallow deer (Dama dama).
Distribution
Specimens are known from Western Europe, including Italy and Britain.
Palaeoecology
Evidence from the site of Fontana Aruccio in Italy shows that D. clactoniana was primarily a browser.
Relationship with humans
Evidence has been found for the butchery Dama clactoniana during the Clactonian period (~424-415,000 years ago) in Britain by Homo heidelbergensis.
References
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Dama clactoniana
- Fallow deer
- Clactonian
- Ceprano Man
- Clacton Spear
- Irish elk
- European land mammal age
- Tautavel Man
