''Xenokeryx'' ("strange horn" in Greek) is an extinct

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

ruminant Ruminants (suborder Ruminantia) are hoofed herbivorous grazing or browsing mammals that are able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach prior to digestion, principally through microbial actions. The ...

known from the

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first epoch (geology), 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 mea ...

of Europe. The type species, ''Xenokeryx amidalae'', was recovered from central Spain and bears a unique T-shaped protrusion from the top of the head. The specific epithet ''amidalae'' is in reference to the character

Padmé Amidala Padmé Amidala Naberrie is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, appearing in the prequel trilogy portrayed by Natalie Portman. First indirectly mentioned in '' Return of the Jedi'', she is introduced in ''The Phantom Menace'' a ...

from the '' Star Wars'' films "due to the striking resemblance that the occipital appendage of ''Xenokeryx'' bears to one of the hairstyles that the aforementioned character shows in ''

The Phantom Menace ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' feature film."

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Palaeomerycidae Miocene Artiodactyla Prehistoric Artiodactyla genera Miocene mammals of Europe Fossil taxa described in 2015 Star Wars {{paleo-eventoedungulate-stub