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''Synthetoceras tricornatus'' is a large, extinct protoceratid, endemic to North America ( Nebraska ) during the Late
With a length of and a mass of , ''Synthetoceras'' was the largest member of its family. It was also the last, and had what is considered to be the protoceratids' strangest set of horns.Geist, V. (1966). The Evolution of Horn-Like Organs. Behaviour, 27(1-2), 175–214. https://doi.org/10.1163/156853966x00155 The two horns above its eyes looked fairly normal and similar to those of many modern horned mammals, but on its snout it had a bizarre, long horn with a forked tip that gave it a Y shape. Only males had this strange horn, and they probably used it in territorial fights.
Miocene
The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recent" ...
, 10.3—5.3 Ma, existing for approximately . Fossils have been recovered from Nebraska
Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the so ...
and Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
.
Description
With a length of and a mass of , ''Synthetoceras'' was the largest member of its family. It was also the last, and had what is considered to be the protoceratids' strangest set of horns.Geist, V. (1966). The Evolution of Horn-Like Organs. Behaviour, 27(1-2), 175–214. https://doi.org/10.1163/156853966x00155 The two horns above its eyes looked fairly normal and similar to those of many modern horned mammals, but on its snout it had a bizarre, long horn with a forked tip that gave it a Y shape. Only males had this strange horn, and they probably used it in territorial fights.
References
Further reading
* R. C. Hulbert and F. C. Whitmore. 2006. Late Miocene mammals from the Mauvilla Local Fauna, Alabama. Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History 46(1):1-28 * Prothero D.R., 1998. Protoceratidae. pp. 431–438 ''in'' C.M. Janis, K.M. Scott, and L.L. Jacobs (''eds.'') ''Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America'' Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Protoceratids Miocene even-toed ungulates Serravallian first appearances Messinian extinctions Miocene mammals of North America Hemphillian Fossil taxa described in 1932 Prehistoric even-toed ungulate genera {{paleo-eventoedungulate-stub