the first complete skeleton of megaloceros verticornis ...the first articulated skeleton of a young...

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Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl., Geowiss. Reihe 5 (2002) 289-308 10.11.2002 The first complete skeleton of Megaloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) Cervidae, Mammalia, from Bilshausen (Lower Saxony, Germany): description and phylogenetic implications Thekla Pfeiffer With 5 figures and 4 tables Abstract The first well preserved, articulated skeleton of a young male deer of Megaloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) was excavated from early Middle Pleistocene sediments of the clay pit of Bilshausen (Unter-Eichsfeld, Lower Saxony). This find made it possible, for the first time, to establish, using cladistic techniques, the systematic position of Megaloceros verticornis among Pleistocene and Holocene plesiometacarpal and telemetacarpal cervids. By contrast to the antler and tooth characters, the postcranial characters, in particular, are suitable for phylogeny reconstruction. Megaloceros verticornb from Bilshausen shows great similarity with M. giganteus of the Upper Pleistocene of Europe in its skeletal morphology, and bootstrap values (BP = 100) show strong support for the monophyly of M. giganteus and M. verticornis. The analysis yields no evidence, however, of a close relationship between Duma and Megaloceros, which has been widely discussed in the literature because of the presence of large, palmated antlers in both genera. Key words: Pleistocene, vertebrate palaeontology, cervids, Megaloceros verticornis, skeletal morphology, phylogeny reconstruc- tion, cladistic analysis, taxonomy. Zusammenfassung Aus der Tongrube von Bilshausen (Unter-Eichsfeld, Niedersachsen) konnte das erste, vollstandige Skelett eines jungen Hirsches von Megaloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) aus mittelpleistozanen Sedimentablagerungen geborgen werden. Dieser Fund ermoglichte es erstmalig, die systematische Stellung von Megaloceros verticornis im System plesiometacarpaler und tele- metacarpaler Hirsche des Pleistozans und Holozans auf breiter Basis zu untersuchen. Im Gegensatz zu den Geweih- und Zahnmerkmalen eignen sich die postcranialen Merkmale des Skelettes besonders gut fir eine phylogenetische Rekonstruk- tion der Hirsche. Die Gemeinsamkeit grol3er Schaufelgeweihe bei Duma duma und dem Riesenhirsch Megaloceros giganteus hat dazu ge- fiihrt, beide in eine enge phylogenetische Beziehung zu setzen, was in der Literatur zu einer anhaltenden Kontroverse gefiihrt hat. Die Analyse der Morphologie der postcranialen Elemente zeigt jedoch, dass es keine enge Verwandtschaft zwischen Duma und Megaloceros gibt. Schliisselworter: Pleistozan, Wirbeltierpalaontologie, Cerviden, Megaloceros verticornis, Skelettmorphologie, phylogenetische Rekonstruktion, kladistische Analyse, Taxonomie. Introduction In the early 20th century, Schmidt (1930, 1934) recovered a complete skeleton of AZces Zutifrons from the clay pit of Bilshausen (Lower Saxony, 20 km SE Gottingen), and several finds of articu- lated skeletal elements of large mammals were brought to light in the following years. In 1952 the complete extremities of another large cervid were found embedded in the clay, although the body was dislocated and destroyed. Scientific in- vestigations ceased during the second world war, and some material was lost, but fortunately the best preserved find of the early years, the articu- lated skeleton of A. Zutifrons, was later discov- ered in the Museum of the Institute for Palaeon- tology at the University of Gottingen. This museum also houses the well preserved skeleton of a young male deer of MeguZoceros verticornis from Bilshausen (Fig. 1) excavated by D. Meischner and J. Schneider (both at the University of Gottingen) in November 1964 I Gutswiese 21, D-38162 Cremlingen, Germany. Received April, accepted July 2002

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Page 1: The first complete skeleton of Megaloceros verticornis ...The first articulated skeleton of a young male of Meguloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) from Bilshausen. (Meischner & Schneider

Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl., Geowiss. Reihe 5 (2002) 289-308 10.11.2002

The first complete skeleton of Megaloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) Cervidae, Mammalia, from Bilshausen (Lower Saxony, Germany): description and phylogenetic implications

Thekla Pfeiffer

With 5 figures and 4 tables

Abstract

The first well preserved, articulated skeleton of a young male deer of Megaloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) was excavated from early Middle Pleistocene sediments of the clay pit of Bilshausen (Unter-Eichsfeld, Lower Saxony). This find made it possible, for the first time, to establish, using cladistic techniques, the systematic position of Megaloceros verticornis among Pleistocene and Holocene plesiometacarpal and telemetacarpal cervids. By contrast to the antler and tooth characters, the postcranial characters, in particular, are suitable for phylogeny reconstruction. Megaloceros verticornb from Bilshausen shows great similarity with M. giganteus of the Upper Pleistocene of Europe in its skeletal morphology, and bootstrap values (BP = 100) show strong support for the monophyly of M. giganteus and M. verticornis.

The analysis yields no evidence, however, of a close relationship between Duma and Megaloceros, which has been widely discussed in the literature because of the presence of large, palmated antlers in both genera.

Key words: Pleistocene, vertebrate palaeontology, cervids, Megaloceros verticornis, skeletal morphology, phylogeny reconstruc- tion, cladistic analysis, taxonomy.

Zusammenfassung

Aus der Tongrube von Bilshausen (Unter-Eichsfeld, Niedersachsen) konnte das erste, vollstandige Skelett eines jungen Hirsches von Megaloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) aus mittelpleistozanen Sedimentablagerungen geborgen werden. Dieser Fund ermoglichte es erstmalig, die systematische Stellung von Megaloceros verticornis im System plesiometacarpaler und tele- metacarpaler Hirsche des Pleistozans und Holozans auf breiter Basis zu untersuchen. Im Gegensatz zu den Geweih- und Zahnmerkmalen eignen sich die postcranialen Merkmale des Skelettes besonders gut fir eine phylogenetische Rekonstruk- tion der Hirsche.

Die Gemeinsamkeit grol3er Schaufelgeweihe bei Duma duma und dem Riesenhirsch Megaloceros giganteus hat dazu ge- fiihrt, beide in eine enge phylogenetische Beziehung zu setzen, was in der Literatur zu einer anhaltenden Kontroverse gefiihrt hat. Die Analyse der Morphologie der postcranialen Elemente zeigt jedoch, dass es keine enge Verwandtschaft zwischen Duma und Megaloceros gibt.

Schliisselworter: Pleistozan, Wirbeltierpalaontologie, Cerviden, Megaloceros verticornis, Skelettmorphologie, phylogenetische Rekonstruktion, kladistische Analyse, Taxonomie.

Introduction

In the early 20th century, Schmidt (1930, 1934) recovered a complete skeleton of AZces Zutifrons from the clay pit of Bilshausen (Lower Saxony, 20 km SE Gottingen), and several finds of articu- lated skeletal elements of large mammals were brought to light in the following years. In 1952 the complete extremities of another large cervid were found embedded in the clay, although the body was dislocated and destroyed. Scientific in-

vestigations ceased during the second world war, and some material was lost, but fortunately the best preserved find of the early years, the articu- lated skeleton of A. Zutifrons, was later discov- ered in the Museum of the Institute for Palaeon- tology at the University of Gottingen.

This museum also houses the well preserved skeleton of a young male deer of MeguZoceros verticornis from Bilshausen (Fig. 1) excavated by D. Meischner and J. Schneider (both at the University of Gottingen) in November 1964

I Gutswiese 21, D-38162 Cremlingen, Germany. Received April, accepted July 2002

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290 F‘feiffer. T.. ComDlete skeleton of Mepaloceros

Fig. 1. The first articulated skeleton of a young male of Meguloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) from Bilshausen.

(Meischner & Schneider 1967). Pollen analysis of Brockentuff of Karlich, 396,000 +/- 20,000 mea- the interglacial profile from Bilshausen was car- sured using the 40Ar/”Ar laser method by v. d. ried out by Muller (1965), and Gruger et al. Bogaard et al. (1989) was fully compatible with (1994) who made detailed studies of the Middle the dating suggested by Bittmann & Miiller Pleistocene warm phases of this area. Bittmann (1996) on the basis of the vegetational develop- & Miiller (1996) correlated the Karlich Inter- ment. The taphonomy of Bilshausen was inter- glacial site with Bilshausen. The age of the preted by Meischner (1995) as follows: “Bils-

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Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl., Geowiss. Reihe 5 (2002) 291

hausen was during its existence a meromictic pond . . . fishes and mammals abound in the warved black shales. The skeleton of the giant deer showed no remnants of the skin, but the arrangement of the bones indicate that the corpse sank to the bottom, fell on the right side, and came to rest head-down on a slope. Bones maintained their original arrangement, but be- came disarticulated and were partly rotated, partly pulled-apart, by downslope movement of the still soft sediment.” The skeleton of the young male deer of Megaloceros verticornis is especially important because it is the first articu- lated skeleton found for this species.

Fossil and recent cervids have been described primarily on the basis of antler-, skull- and tooth characters, and additionally on body size. Cur- rent morphological taxonomy splits the family Cervidae on the basis of a single character: ab- sence (Hydropotinae) or presence (Odocoileinae + Cervinae) of antlers (Groves & Grubb 1987), even though the taxonomic value of antlers has been repeatedly questioned (see, for example, Scott & Janis 1993). Antlers show high varia- bility within a species, and this is dependent on on- togenetic growth patterns and habitat conditions.

Unfortunately, previous workers attempted to ascertain relationships of cervids based only on the comparison of antler and skull characters. An example of this problem is the unresolved discus- sion concerning the relationships of the Recent fallow deer (Duma duma) and the giant deer (Megaloceros giganteus) which stemms from the beginning of the last century. The presence of large, palmated antlers in Dama duma and Mega- loceros giganteus suggested a close relationship between these two taxa (Freudenberg 1914, Geist 1971, 1987, Lister 1984). By contrast Thenius (1958) and Kahlke (1994) held the view that the giant deer must have evolved from deer with an- tlers that lacked any palmation. Investigations by Pfeiffer (1999a, in press) that also include post- cranial characters, show that the genera Megulo- ceros and Duma belong to clearly separate lineages in the Pleistocene, and that their pal- mate antlers must have evolved independently.

The systematic position of Meguloceros verti- cornis has also been controversial (see below). On the basis of the skeleton from Bilshausen, and together with skulls, antlers, and selected postcranial skeletal material from adult indivi- duals of Meguloceros verticornis from the Thur- ingian localities SiiBenborn and Voigtstedt (Kahlke 1956, 1960, 1965, 1969) it is possible to determine the systematic position of this species

within the Pleistocene plesiometacarpal deer for the first time. Analysis of the morphology of the postcranial skeletal elements verifies a close rela- tionship between M. verticornis and M. gigun- teus.

Gould (1974) showed that the dramatic size reduction of spike antlers in the advanced South American genera Pudu and Muzania suggests that the reversal of morphological trends is pos- sible as a consequence of selection correlated with small body size. Some morphological char- acters seem therefore to be with highly homo- plastic in ungulates (Scott & Janis 1993), and are difficult to use for determining phylogene tic rela- tionships.

Material

The analysis conducted here was based on skeletons from males and females of a large number of Recent and fossil deer species, and the skeleton of Megaloceros verticornis from Bilshausen (Table 1). This taxon list includes the Re- cent telemetacarpal species Alces alces, Rangifer tarandus, Capreolus capreolus, C. pygargus, the Middle Pleistocene Roe deer C. suessenbomensis, the Lower Pleistocene plesio- metacarpal species Eucladoceros tegulensis, E. dicranios, Dama rhenana, Dama nestii, the Middle Pleistocene Megalo- ceros verticornis, M. giganteus, Cervus elaphus acoronatus, Dama darna clactoniana, D. duma geiselana, and the extant forms Cervus elaphus, C. nippon nippon, C. nippon hortulor- um, Axis axis, D. darna mesopotamica, and D. darna darna. Skeletons of the Recent Moschus rnoschiferus and skeletal material of the taxa Blastomeryx and Parablastomeryx from the Miocene of North America were added as outgroups.

In addition to skeletons, isolated bones of fossil taxa from different localities were also used. The scapula and pelvis, like the skull, were often broken. In the case of Megaloceros verticornis, the skeleton of the young stag from Bilshausen was analysed together with skulls, antlers and isolated post- cranial bones of adult individuals from SiiBenborn and Voigt- stedt. Because the skull of the deer from Bilshausen is not preserved and this specimen reprents a juvenile, it was neces- sary to study additional elements from adult individuals.

Method

A data matrix was coded for the 20 fossil and Recent deer listed above, and the antlerless musk deer, Moschus moschi- ferus, together with Blastomeryx and Parablastorneryx from the Miocene of North-America were used as outgroups. In current taxonomy, Moschus is commonly accepted as a close relative of the family Cervidae. Blastomeryx and Parablasto- meryx share many ancestral features with early cervids in- cluding, for example, large upper canines.

The one-hundred and twenty-two morphological characters based on postcranial bones, antlers, skulls, and teeth are ex- plained in Table 2, and listed in the data matrix (Table 3). The characters were coded as “unordered”, and equally weighted, while missing data was denoted by a question mark. Polymorphic character states, which occur within a spe- cies with approximately the same frequency, were coded with the equate format a = 0 + 2; b = 0 + 1. Phylogenetic recon- structions were obtained by the maximum parsimony (MP)

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292 Pfeiffer, T., Complete skeleton of Megaloceros

method (PAUP 4.0, Swofford 1998), and the maximum-like- Wood (ML) method (quartet puzzling approach: Strimmer & von Haeseler 1996). The robustness of the phylogeny was assessed using the following approaches: the bootstrap per- centage (BT) (Felsenstein 1985) with lo00 resamplings, heur- istic search mode; the Jacknife with 50% deletion, heuristic search mode, lo00 replicates; the reliability percentages (RP), i.e. the number of times the group appears after 10000 ML puzzling steps (Strimmer & von Haeseler 1996).

Taxonomy

Megaloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868)

Family C e r v i d a e GoldfuB, 1820 Subfamily C e r v i n a e GoldfuB, 1820 Genus Megaloceros Brookes, 1828

1862 Megaceros Carnutorum - Laugel, A. 1868 Cervus verticornis - Dawkins, B. 1869 Cervus (euryceros) Belgrandi - Betgrand, E. 1882 Cervus dawkinsi - Newton, E. T. 1886 Cervus (Duma) priscus - Moullade, E. 1889 Cervus belgrandi - Harmer, F. 1892 Cervus pachygenis - Pomel, A. 1903 Cervus pliotarandoides - de Nessandri, G. 1920 Praemegaceros verticornis - Portis, A. 1927 Cervus megaceros mosbachensis - Soergel, W. 1953 Megaceros verticomis - Azzaroli, A. 1953 ‘Cervus’ obscurus - Azzaroli, A. 1956 Orthogonoceros verticomis - Kahlke, H.-D. 1956 Dolichodoryceros siifienbornensis - Kahlke, H.-D. 1992 Megaceroides verticomis - Azzaroli, A. & Mazza, F! 1993 Megaloceros verticomis - Lister, A.

The species M. verticornis was first described by Dawkins (1868), but initially referred to the genus Cervus.

Laugel (1862) described, with Megaceros car- nutorum from St. Prest, the antler characters of Megaloceros verticornis (Pfeiffer 1999b), but fig- ured teeth of Alces. Therefore, Heintz & Poplin (1981) used carnutorum for an alcine, Alces cur- nutorum. In any case the cervid material from St. Prest may belong to two or more species. Concerning Praernegaceros, Portis (1920) first used this genus name in connection with the spe- cies carnutorum. This cannot be regarded there- fore as a valid foundation for Praemegaceros.

Kahlke (1956) referred M. verticornis to a new genus, Orthogonoceros, presumed here to be a junior synonym of Megaloceros.

Azzaroli & Mazza (1992) included Megaloceros verticornis in the genus Megaceroides, which was described by Joleaud (1914) on the basis of a giant deer from Algeria. The antlers of M. algericus (Lydekker 1890), the type species of Megacer- oides, are poorly known, but the teeth of M. alger- I’cus, figured by Lydekker (1890) differ in their morphology from those of M. verticornis. Conse- quently, the systematic position of M. algericus within the giant deer has yet to be resolved.

Lister (1993, 1994) combined all giant deer species to a single genus Megaloceros following Azzaroli (1953). The name Megdoceros Brookes, 1828 (type species M. giganteus) has priority over Megaceros Owen 1842 (Lister 1987, International Commission on Zoological Nomen- clature 1989), and the author follows this opi- nion here.

Description of the skeleton of Megdoceros verticornis from Bilshausen

P r e s e r v a t i o n This young male individual of M. verticornis lay on its right side, legs parallel to one another (Fig. 1). The bones are dark brown, with well preserved surfaces, that usually permit detailed study of the morphological characters. The body is well preserved, but the cervical vertebral col- umn is disarticulated, and the skull, the anterior cervical vertebrae, the main part of the left an- tler, parts of the lumbar vertebral column, and the sacrum are missing (Fig. 1). Some isolated lower and upper molars are preserved, impor- tant among which are the left upper M3 and fragments of the lower m3. The last molars are completely developed, but show no (m3) or only very little abrasion (M3). At the age of 24 months the second dentition is complete in the extant genera Cervus (Habermehl 1961) and Dama (Rieck 1983). If M. verticornis developed the last lower and upper molars at the same on- togenetic stage, an age of two years is indicated for this stag at death. This observation is in ac- cordance with several long bones that show in- complete fusion of their epiphyses. The juvenile age also explains the relatively small degree of antler development (Fig. 2) in comparison to adult individuals from Suljenborn (Kahlke 1956, 1969). The right antler is nearly complete, while the left antler is only presented by fragments of the first and second anterior tines.

Both humeri, femora, tibiae, and the metapo- dials were broken in their proximal part, but are reconstructed. The fragmentary pelvis, sacrum and coccygeal vertebrae were reconstructed, but yield no informative morphological details. All anterior and posterior phalanges are complete and well preserved. As the carpal and tarsal bones were fixed in position during the recon- struction of the skeleton neither measurements, nor morphological details could be collected for these elements.

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Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl.. Geowiss. Reihe 5 (2002) 293

Table 1 Skeletal material of the 20 cervid species studied in this investigation.

Recent: D. duma duma D. duma mesopotamica Axis axis C. nippon nippon C. nippon hortulorum Cervus elaphus Alces alces Rangifer tarandus Capreolus capreolus Capreolus pygargus

Archaeological sites: D. duma duma (Kastanas, Demircihuyiik) D. duma mesopotamica (Halawa, Kebara)

Late Pleistocene: Duma duma (Upper Rhine valley, Lebringen, Trafalgar Square) Megaloceros giganteus (Upper Rhine valley, Schlutup, Ireland) Alces alces (Upper Rhine, Valley, Magdeburg-Neustadt)

Middle Pleistocene D. duma geiselana (Neumark-Nord) Cervus elaphus (Neumark-Nord) D. duma clactoniana (Clacton, Swanscombe, Jaywick, Grays, Riano, Valdemino, Melpignano) Cervus elaphus (Clacton, Swanscornbe, Jaywick, Grays) Cervus elaphus acoronatus (Mosbach, SiiBenborn, Voigtstedt) Megaloceros verticornh (Mosbach, SiiBenborn, Voigtstedt, Bilshausen) Capreolus suessenbornensis (Mosbach, SiiBenborn, Miesenheim)

Lower Pleistocene Dama nestii (Tasso) Dama rhenana (Senkze, Tegelen) Eucladoceros tegulensis (SenBze, Tegelen) Eucladoceros dicranios (Tasso)

The teeth and skeletal elements of Megalo- ceros verticornis from Bilshausen are relatively large and within the size range of those of Mega- loceros verticornis from SiiBenborn, and the giant deer, M. giganteus, from other Upper Pleis- tocene German localities (Table 4).

A n t l e r The antlers of M. verticornis always show a char- acteristic medially-curved tine at a point 4 to 8 centimetres above the burr, and this can be ob- served at the antler of the young stag from Bils- hausen. In addition, some antlers of M. verticor- nis exhibits a growth near the base of the beam, ranging from a small bump to a strong tine, which is not developed on the antler from Bils- hausen. Due to this variation some specimens with a long tine in this position have been sepa- rated as species by previous workers, such as Cervus pliotarandoides and ‘Cervus obscurus’.

Measures of the preserved right antler are gi- ven in Fig. 2. The height of the right pedicle

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(HRst) is 55 mm, while its diameter (DRst), at 50.5 mm, is quite small. The burr is incomplete, with a preserved diameter (DR) of 56.5 mm, but must have been about 65 mm in life. These data support a juvenile age. The first anterior tine in- serts at a right angle about 60mm above the burr. The beam is rounded in its proximal part, with longitudinal ridges on its surface, but with- out pearls. It becomes flattened in the region where the second anterior tine branches off. A flattened posterior tine, now broken, also branched off 380mm above the burr. The distal part of the beam shows a weakly developed pal- mation and is directed anteriorly. The distal part of the antler is missing, and the preserved length is 747mm. The beam turns sidewards and up- wards above the burr.

U p p e r mola r s From the right upper jaw a fragment with M2 and M3 is preserved, while from the left side, a fragment of MI, and the complete, isolated M2

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Fig.2. Right antler of a two year old stag from Bilshausen indicating principal measurements (see expla- nation in the text). The develop- ment of the burr shows that the stag had shed an antler in the year before. The relatively small dimen-

v sions confirm a juvenile age.

and M3 are measured (Table 4). All molars show well developed entostyli, a small anterior cingu- lum, and a well expressed posterior cingulum. The anterior and posterior lingual lobes bifur- cate posteriorly (Fig. 3a).

adult megalocerines, and only slightly thickened. The isolated lower right and left ml, and the left m2 are preserved, the latter showing little abra- sion. An anterior cingulum is well developed, and the ectostylid is small (Fig. 3b). Fragments of the lower right and left m3 show no abrasion. This indicates that the individual is of about two years in age.

L o w e r m o l a r s A fragment of the left lower jaw is preserved, but lacks teeth. It is not pachygnathous, as in

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Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl., Geowiss. Reihe 5 (2002) 295

Fig. 3. A. Left upper molars (M2, M3) in occlusal view, M3 shows little abrasion, indicating an individual age of two years at the time of death. All molars show well developed entostyli, a small anterior cingulum, and a well expressed posterior cingulum. The anterior and posterior lingual lobes are bifurcated posteriorly. B. Right lower molar (ml) in oc- clusal view. An anterior cingulum is well developed, the ec- tostylid is small.

V e r t e b r a l c o l u m n Axis: Only the cranial facet of the axis could be measured, its widths is 108.5mm (BFcr, v. d. Driesch 1976), and the distal epiphysis is not fused.

Only the corpi of the 3rd-7th cervical verteb- rae are preserved. Each epiphysis is separated from the corpus. Corpus lengths are in the size range typical for Megaloceros. The shape of the cranial epiphyses is similar to those of Megalo- ceros giganteus, flattened or concave dorsally, wide, and rounded, a diagnostic character for Megaloceros.

The corpus of each thoracic vertebrae is pre- served, but not one of the epiphyses is fused. By contrast, the proximal epiphysis of the first lum- bar vertebra is fused and shows a weakly de- pressed margin laterally.

S c a p u l a The cavitas glenoidalis is round and wider than long (cha. 12 in the description of character states, Table 2) and it has no V-shaped cavity in its articular surface (cha. 13). the tuberculum su- praglenoidale is short, coarse, and not medially curved (cha. 14) as in Megaloceros giganteus. M. verticornis has no foramen dorsally between the processus coracoideus and the cavitas glenoidalis (cha. 15) as in most species of deer, while M.

giganteus has a large foramen in this position. The scapula shaft is robust, but not especially widened as in adult individuals of M. giganteus (cha. 17). This character is strongly influenced by antler development. Consequently, the relatively juvenile age and the small antler of the indivi- dual from Bilshausen reflect the weaker expres- sion of this feature.

H u m e r u s The proximal epiphyses of both humeri are not fused, but the distal epiphyses were just begin- ning to fuse to the diaphysis at the time of death. Only characters of the distal part could be determined. The fossa radialis shows two rounded scores (cha. 21), a character that is diag- nostic for M. verticornis and M. giganteus. The morphology is generally similar to that of Mega- loceros giganteus, except that the epicondylus la- teralis has no pronounced bony knob (cha. 22).

R a d i u s a n d U l n a The caput olecrani is not fused to the ulna dia- physis, and the fusion of the distal epiphysis of the radius is incomplete. In addition, there is no bony connection between the diaphyses of the radius and ulna. This is consistent with an onto- genetic stage of two years. The attachment of the ligamentum collateralis laterale at the proximal end of the radius diaphysis projects out laterally, and slopes a little downwards (cha. 26). Megalo- ceros verticornis from Bilshausen shares this de- velopment with Megaloceros giganteus and the genus Cewus. Characters 34-37 could not be unequivocally assessed because the stag was rela- tively young.

M e t a c a r p u s I11 + I V The epiphyses of the right and left metacarpus I11 + IV are nearly completely fused. In most species of deer this epiphysis fuses in the end of the second year. The dimensions of these bones are similar to those of Megaloceros giganteus, moreover the specimen of M. verticornis from Bilshausen has also stout diaphyses of MC I11 + IV as is typical for the giant deer. The mor- phology of the distal end of MC I11 + IV is gen- erally similar to that of Megaloceros verticornis (cha. 43, 44, 45) and to most plesiometacarpal species of deer.

P e l v i s The bones of the pelvis are broken into numer- ous pieces, and no metric data could be ob- tained. The symphysis pelvina was not fused at the time of death.

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ter-

aide

d ph

ylog

eny

reco

nstr

uctio

n.

0

1 2 3

0

Atla

s 0

Ala

estra

ight

19

skel

etal

4

elem

ent

8 D

escr

iptio

n of

cha

ract

er s

tate

s z

1 A

laec

onve

x

2 A

laec

onca

ve

Atla

s 0

Atla

s cr

ania

lly a

nd c

auda

lly n

arro

w

1 A

tlas

cran

ially

nar

row

, cau

dally

bro

ad

2 A

lae

cran

ially

and

cau

dally

bro

ad

14

-

Atla

s 0

Ala

e no

t elo

ngat

ed ca

udal

ly

1 A

lae

a lit

tle e

long

ated

caud

ally

2 A

lae

espe

cial

ly e

long

ated

cau

dally

3 A

lae

esD

ecia

llv e

lona

ated

and

wid

ened

cau

dallv

m u

0

0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 0 1 2 0 1 2 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 0 1 2 3

4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5

I 1

S. d

. ins

erts

beh

ind

the

dens

in la

tera

l vie

w

7 ce

rvic

al-

0 pr

oxim

al e

piph

y

Des

crip

tion

of c

hara

cter

sta

tes

the

cav.

gle

noid

alis

show

s no

V-s

hape

d ca

vity

in it

s ar

ticul

ar s

urfa

ce

the

cav.

gle

noid

alis

show

s a

V-s

hape

d ca

vity

in a

few

cas

es

the

cav.

gle

noid

alis

show

s a

V-s

hape

d ca

vity

with

a fr

eque

ncy

up to

25%

the

cav.

gle

noid

alis

show

s a

V-s

hape

d ca

vity

with

a fr

eque

ncy

up to

50%

the

cav.

gle

noid

alis

sho

ws

a V

-sha

ped

cavi

ty w

ith a

freq

uenc

y up

to 8

5%

the

tube

rcul

um s

upra

glen

oida

le is

sle

nder

, med

ially

cur

ved

the

tub.

sup

. is

stro

ng, e

long

ated

, med

ially

cur

ved

the

tub.

sup

. is

espe

cial

ly lo

ng

the

tub.

sup

. is

espe

cial

ly s

trong

, lon

g, n

ot v

entra

lly c

urve

d

the

tub.

sup

. is

shor

t, co

arse

, not

ven

trally

cuw

ed

no fo

ram

en d

orsa

lly b

etw

een

proc

. cor

acoi

deus

and

cay

. gle

noid

alis

a la

rge

fora

men

dor

sally

bet

wee

n pr

oc. c

or. a

nd c

av. G

leno

idal

is

a ca

vity

dor

sally

bet

wee

n pr

oc. c

or. a

nd c

ay. g

leno

idal

is

the

spin

a sc

apul

ae e

nds

prox

imal

ly w

ith a

pea

k, fo

rmin

g an

ang

le o

f 80-90° w

ith th

e sh

aft

the

spin

a sc

apul

ae is

esp

ecia

lly e

long

ated

in th

e di

rect

ion

of th

e ca

v. g

leno

idal

is

the

spin

a sc

apul

ae e

nds

prox

imal

ly w

ith a

n an

gle

of a

bout

100

" with

the

shaf

t

the

scap

ula

shaf

t is

slen

der

the

scap

ula

shaf

t is

stro

ng

the

scap

ula

shaf

t is

espe

cial

ly w

iden

ed

the

tube

rcul

um m

ajus

is fl

atte

nd, w

ith n

o ca

vity

the

tub.

maj

us is

slig

htly

inde

nted

in a

few

cas

es

the

tub.

maj

us is

inde

nted

in m

ost c

ases

the

tub.

maj

us is

dee

ply

inde

nted

the

tub.

maj

us w

ithou

t vis

ible

mus

cle

atta

chm

ent l

ater

ally

the

tub.

maj

us w

ith a

wea

k m

uscl

e at

tach

men

t lat

eral

ly

the

tub.

maj

us w

ith a

mar

ked

mus

cle

atta

chm

ent l

ater

ally

the

epic

ondy

lus

hum

eri is

axi

ally

stro

nger

than

late

rally

the

epic

ondy

lus h

umer

i is a

xial

ly a

lso

slen

der i

n a

few

cas

es

the

epic

ondy

lus

hum

eri is

axi

ally

sle

nder

with

a fr

eque

ncy

up to

50%

the

epic

ondy

lus

hum

eri is

axi

ally

sle

nder

in m

ost c

ases

the

epic

ondy

lus

hum

eri is

axi

ally

esp

ecia

lly s

trong

in a

few

cas

es

the

epic

ondy

lus h

umer

i is a

xial

ly a

lway

s es

peci

ally

stro

ng

the

scor

es o

f the

foss

a ra

dial

is s

how

var

iabl

e sh

apes

the

foss

a ra

dial

is h

as tw

o w

edge

-sha

ped

scor

es

the

late

ral s

core

of t

he fo

ssa

radi

alis

is la

ckin

g in

a fe

w c

ases

the

late

ral s

core

of t

he fo

ssa

radi

alis

is la

ckin

g w

ith a

freq

uenc

y up

to 5

0%

the

foss

a ra

dial

is s

how

s la

tera

lly n

o sc

ore

the

foss

a ra

dial

is sh

ows

two

roun

ded

scor

es

3 pr

ox. e

piph

ysis

roun

ded,

8 ce

rvic

al-

0 no

tube

rcle

on

the

caud

al

4 5 6

I I v

erte

brae

I 1

la tu

berc

le o

n th

e ca

udal

pro

cess

I 1

9

Axi

s 0

Spi

na d

orsa

lis lo

w, s

traig

ht, c

rani

ally

poi

nted

1

5

1 S

.d. c

rani

ally

roun

ded,

caud

ally

risi

ng

2 S

.d. c

rani

ally

poi

nted

, cau

dally

risi

ng

3 S

.d. c

rani

ally

roun

ded,

caud

ally

ext

rem

ely

risin

g 16

-

Axi

s 0

Den

ssho

rt

1 D

ens

elon

gate

d

Axi

s 0

S.d.

ins

erts

abo

ve th

e de

ns in

late

ral v

iew

1

7

cerv

ical

- 0

trans

vers

e pr

oces

ses

shor

t, na

rrow

verte

brae

1

trans

vers

e pr

oces

ses s

hort,

bro

ad

19

1

I 2 I transv

erse

Dro

cess

es e

lona

ated

. nar

row

10

1 1

12

6th

lum

bar

0 di

stal

epi

phys

is w

ithou

t any

pro

cess

verte

bra

1 di

stal

epi

phys

is w

ith s

hort

proc

esse

s la

tera

lly

2 di

stal

epi

phys

is w

ith e

long

ated

pro

cess

es la

tera

lly

3 di

stal

epi

phys

is w

ith s

hort

proc

esse

s ve

ntra

l, la

tera

lly d

irect

ed

0 0

s sa

crum

and

6Ih

lum

b. v

erte

bra

with

a fl

exib

le c

onne

ctio

n 6t

h lu

mba

r

verte

bra

1 0

s sa

crum

and

Sth

lum

b. v

erte

bra

are

inte

rlock

ed

Sca

pula

0

the

cay.

gle

noid

alis

is o

val,

mor

e el

onga

ted

than

wid

e

II

the

cav.

gle

noid

alis

show

s a

knob

in d

irect

ion

to th

e sp

ine

in a

few

cas

es

the

knob

occ

urrs

with

a fr

eque

ncy

of 2

5% -

50%

the

knob

occ

urrs

with

a fr

eque

ncy

of m

ore

than

50%

I 4

the

cav.

gle

noid

alis

show

s a

knob

in d

irect

ion

of th

e tu

b. s

upra

glen

oida

le in

a fe

w c

ases

II

II

5

the

cav.

ole

noid

alis

is w

ider

than

lono

-

20

-

21

skel

etal

el

emen

t

Sca

pula

Sca

pula

Sca

Dul

a

Sca

pula

Sca

pula

Hum

erus

Hum

erus

Hum

erus

Hum

erus

Page 9: The first complete skeleton of Megaloceros verticornis ...The first articulated skeleton of a young male of Meguloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) from Bilshausen. (Meischner & Schneider

EP -

ZP -

(ledie3eiawo!sald) Alleis!p paanpal sle!podeiaw

ap!s 0

ued io!iaisod si! u! uaweio4 paie6uola ue S

MO

~S

euln pue sn!p-ei uaamiaq ainins aqi

L

AI+III 3

W

8E -

9E adeqs paddoi-ielj 'ieln6U

e ue swio) '3alo 'qni aqi lo a6pa aqi z

uo!SS

aidap yeam e q

i!~

papunoi s! !uem

aio iaqni aqi 40 a6pa ayi

aJo3s padeqs-A e q

i!~

papunoi S

I !uemaio iaqni aqi 40 a6pa aqi o

sniawnH

Page 10: The first complete skeleton of Megaloceros verticornis ...The first articulated skeleton of a young male of Meguloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) from Bilshausen. (Meischner & Schneider

skel

eta

2 I ele

men

a, a

0 0

6

skel

etal

el

emen

t 55

Ti

bia

Des

crip

tion

of c

hara

cter

stat

es

the

gap

betw

een

the

dist

al tr

ochl

eae

of M

C 11

1 and

IV fo

rms

a ke

y ho

le

51 I F

emur

di

stal

a, x 0 0 1 2

dist

al

prox

imal

prox

imal

Des

crip

tion o

f cha

ract

er s

tate

s

the

tube

rosi

ty fo

r the

liga

men

tum

cruc

iatu

m fo

rms

an e

long

ated

U-s

hape

the

tub.

for

the

lig. c

ruc.

form

s an

elo

ngat

ed o

r sh

ort U

-sha

pe

the

tub.

for t

he li

g. c

ruc.

is s

hort,

form

ing

a w

eak

U-s

hape

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

MC

III+

I

dist

al

MC

III+

I

dist

al

Fem

ur

prox

imal

Fem

ur

prox

imal

Fem

ur

prox

imal

Fem

ur

prox

imal

Fem

ur

1 th

e ga

p be

twee

n th

e di

stal

troc

hlea

e of

MC

111 a

nd IV

has

par

alle

l mar

gins

pr

oxim

al

1 th

e m

uscl

e at

t. la

tera

lly a

t the

t. m

ajor

form

s a

wea

k ke

el o

r a k

nob

2 I the m

. att.

late

rally

at t

he 1

. maj

or fo

rms

a kn

ob.

1 2 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 0 th

e pr

onou

nced

poi

nt is

enl

arge

d in

som

e ca

ses

the

poin

t at t

he c

ochl

ea ti

biae

is a

lway

s en

larg

ed a

nd v

ery

pron

ounc

ed

the

diap

hysi

s ha

s a

flatte

ned

surfa

ce p

oste

riorly

the

diap

hysi

s sh

ows

long

, stro

ng k

eels

pos

terio

rly

the

foss

a tro

chan

teric

a sh

ows

a w

eak,

U-s

hape

d de

pres

sion

in it

s m

argi

n

in m

ost c

ases

the

f. tro

chan

teric

a sh

ows

a de

ep U

-sha

ped

depr

essi

on in

its

mar

gin

the

f. tro

chan

teric

a sho

ws

alw

ays

a de

ep U

-sha

ped

depr

essi

on in

its

mar

gin

the

f. tro

chan

teric

a sh

ows

a fla

t, di

agon

ally

dire

cted

mar

gin

the

edge

of t

he tr

ocha

nter

maj

or fo

rms

a fla

t-top

ped

shap

e

the

edge

of t

he t.

maj

or is

risi

ng a

nter

iorly

in a

few

cas

es

the

edge

of t

he 1

. maj

or is

risi

ng a

nter

iorly

the

edge

of t

he 1.

maj

or s

how

s tw

o sm

all s

core

s

the

edge

of t

he t.

maj

or h

as o

ne d

eep

scor

e in

the

mid

dle

the

mus

cle

atta

chm

ent l

ater

ally

at t

he tr

ocha

nter

maj

or fo

rms

a w

eak

keel

.

3 th

e tu

b. fo

r the

lig.

cru

c. s

how

s a

depr

essi

on la

tera

lly

4 th

e tu

b. fo

r th

e lig

. cru

c. is

sho

rt, ro

unde

d, re

stric

ted

by a

sm

all r

idge

ant

erio

rly

0

the

att.

of th

e lig

. col

. tar

s. m

edia

lis is

hor

izon

tal,

form

ing

a pr

onou

nced

poi

nt a

nter

iorly

1 th

e at

t. of

the

lig. c

ol. t

ars.

med

ialis

is h

oriz

onta

lly d

irect

ed, e

ndin

g an

terio

rly

2 th

e at

t. of

the

lig. c

ol. t

ars.

med

ialis

turn

s up

war

ds, f

orm

ing

a cu

rve

3 th

e at

t. of

the

lig. c

ol. t

ars.

med

ialis

is ro

undi

sh, n

ot c

lear

cut

57

Tibi

a 0

the

dors

al fa

cet i

n co

ntac

t with

the

mal

leol

us la

tera

lis is

sm

all

56

Tibi

a

dist

al

dist

al

1 th

e do

rs. f

ac. i

n co

ntac

t with

the

mal

. lat

eral

is is

var

iabl

e in

siz

e

2 th

e do

rs. f

. in

cont

act w

ith th

e m

al. l

ater

alis

is v

ery

smal

l

3 th

e do

rs f

. in

cont

act w

ith th

e m

al. l

ater

alis

is e

nlar

ged

4 th

e do

rs. f

. in

cont

act w

ith th

e m

al. l

ater

alis

is e

nlar

ged

and

pron

ounc

ed

58

Tibi

a 0

the

late

ral p

art o

f the

coc

hlea

tibi

ae s

how

s a

smal

l, pr

onou

nced

poi

nt

3 4 0 1 2 th

e kn

ob is

usu

ally

acc

ompa

nied

by

a de

pres

sion

3 th

e at

t. of

the

m. v

ast.

Inte

rm. f

orm

s an

elo

ngat

ed k

eel

I the

m. a

tt. la

tera

lly a

t the

1. m

ajor

form

s a

roug

h, d

epre

ssed

scor

e

the

m. a

n. la

tera

lly a

t the

1. m

ajor

form

s a

mar

ked

keel

.

the

att.

of th

e m

. vas

tus

inte

rmed

ius

form

s a

wea

k kn

ob a

t the

pro

xim

al fe

mur

the

knob

is a

ccom

pani

ed b

y a

depr

essi

on in

som

e ca

ses

3 th

e la

tera

l par

t of t

he c

ochl

ea ti

biae

is n

early

flat

tene

d, fo

rmin

g a

wea

k cu

rve

0 th

e M

T 111

and

IV p

roje

ct a

ppro

xim

atel

y eq

ually

with

thei

r pro

xim

al fa

cets

1 th

e pr

oxim

al fa

cet o

f M

T 111

pro

ject

s cl

early

abo

ve th

e fa

cet o

f M

T IV

0 on

the

axia

l edg

e be

twee

n M

T 111

and

MT

II a

bul

ge e

xcee

ds th

e pr

oxim

al fa

cets

59

MT

III+I

V

prox

imal

MT

111 +

IV

60

1 th

e bu

lge

is e

spec

ially

pro

noun

ced

in m

ost c

ases

I I pro

xim

al I 2 I th

e bu

lge

is a

lway

s ve

ry p

rono

unce

d

4 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 1 2 0 1

the

att.

of th

e m

. vas

t. tn

term

. for

ms

a m

arke

d kn

ob d

ista

lly o

f the

troc

h. m

ajor

the

diap

hysi

s is

roun

ded

in c

ross

sec

tion

the

diap

hysi

s is

pos

terio

rly ke

eled

in c

ross

sec

tion

the

faci

es p

oplit

ea is

flat

tene

d, ro

ugh

the

f. po

plite

a fo

rms

a ro

ugh,

pro

min

ent t

uber

osity

the

foss

a in

terc

ondy

laris

is s

hallo

w, t

he d

ista

nce

of th

e co

ndyl

es is

sm

all

the

f. in

terc

ond.

varie

s in

its

dept

h, th

e di

stan

ce o

f the

con

dyle

s is

wid

e

the

f. in

terc

ond.

is d

eep,

the

dist

ance

of t

he c

ondy

les

is s

mal

l

the

inte

rnal

pea

k of

the

tub.

inte

rcon

dyla

re p

roje

cts

clea

rly b

eyon

d th

e ex

tern

al p

eak

the

tub.

inte

rcon

d. p

roje

cts

varia

bly

with

its

inte

rnal

and

ext

erna

l pea

k

the

tub.

inte

rcon

d. p

roje

cts

appr

oxim

atel

y eq

ually

with

its

inte

rnal

and

ext

erna

l pea

k

the

area

inte

rcon

d. ce

ntra

lis is

pos

t. sh

ort,

rest

ricte

d by

the

tub.

for t

he li

g. c

ruci

atum

the

a. i.

c. i

s la

tera

lly e

long

ated

, the

face

t of t

he la

tera

l con

dyle

is w

eakl

y el

onga

ted

3

the

bulg

e be

twee

n th

e fa

cets

of M

T 111

and

MT

II is

acc

ompa

nied

by

a sm

all g

ully

4 th

e bu

lge

is v

ery

smal

l, ac

com

pani

ed b

y a

gully

5 on

the

axia

l edg

e be

twee

n M

T 111

and

MT

I1 e

xist

s on

ly a

gul

ly

6 th

e pr

oxim

al fa

cets

of

MT

111 a

nd M

T II

bord

er o

n ea

ch o

ther

, the

re is

no

bulg

e or

gul

ly

0

the

shap

e of

the

post

erio

r fac

et in

con

tact

with

the

cubo

-nav

icul

ar b

one

is s

hort

1 th

e po

st. f

. is

mor

e el

onga

ted,

ove

rlapp

ing

with

the

face

t of t

he M

T 111

2 th

e po

st. f

. is

mor

e el

onga

ted,

ove

rlapp

ing

up to

the

mid

dle

of th

e fa

cet o

f the

MT

Ill

3 th

e po

st. f

. is

elon

gate

d, e

xcee

ding

the

mid

dle

of th

e fa

cet o

f the

MT

Ill

4 th

e po

st. f

. is

espe

cial

ly e

long

ated

, tra

nsve

rsal

ly d

irect

ed, f

latte

ned

0 th

e po

ster

ior f

acet

pro

ject

s sl

ight

ly a

bove

the

face

ts o

f MT

111 a

nd M

T IV

1 th

e po

st. f

. is

shor

t, an

d fo

rms

a pr

onou

nced

pea

k in

the

mid

dle

betw

en M

T 111

and

IV

2 th

e po

st. f

, is

elon

gate

d, w

ith a

sm

all p

eak

in th

e m

iddl

e be

twen

MT

111 a

nd IV

3

the

post

. f. i

s el

onga

ted

and

proj

ects

cle

arly

abo

ve th

e fa

cets

of M

T Ill

and

MT

IV

61

M

T 111

+ IV

prox

imal

-~

62

M

T 111

+ IV

prox

imal

2 th

e a.

i. c

. for

ms

a gu

lly, t

he fa

cet o

f the

lat.

cond

yle

is d

istin

ctly

elo

ngat

ed p

oste

riorly

I

4 th

e po

st. f

. is

flatte

nd, p

roje

ctin

g eq

ually

with

the

face

ts o

f MT

111 a

nd IV

Page 11: The first complete skeleton of Megaloceros verticornis ...The first articulated skeleton of a young male of Meguloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) from Bilshausen. (Meischner & Schneider

skel

etal

e

lem

en

t

MT

Ill +

IV

prox

imal

I) 3 3 1

MT

111 +

IV

dist

al

orde

red

MT

III+I

V

Des

crip

tion

of c

hara

cter

sta

tes

lat.

a w

eak

groo

ve b

orde

rs th

e di

st. p

art o

f the

troc

h. in

con

tact

with

the

cubo

navi

c. pr

oc.

the

groo

ve is

mor

e st

eepl

v in

clin

ed, f

orm

ing

an e

xact

ly a

dius

ted

conn

ectio

n w

ith th

e c.

D.

MT

III+I

V

0 on

e sm

all,

post

erio

rly e

long

ated

fora

men

is lo

cate

d be

tw. t

he fa

cets

of M

T 111

and

IV

Cal

cane

us

73

Cal

cane

us

D 1 D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3

Cal

cane

us

Talu

s

corp

us

Talu

s

capu

t

smal

l bul

ge la

tera

lly b

etw

een

the

troch

lea

talis

pro

x. a

nd d

ist.

in a

nter

ior v

iew

pron

ounc

ed bu

lge

late

rally

bet

wee

n th

e tr

ochl

ea ta

lis p

rox.

and

dis

t. in

ant

erio

r vie

w

prox

imal

two

elon

gate

d bu

lges

axi

ally

and

late

rally

exc

eed

the

mid

dle

of th

e di

aphy

sis

the

late

ral b

ulge

is s

hort

er in

mos

t cas

es

the

axia

l bul

ge is

alw

ays

muc

h lo

nger

than

the

late

ral o

ne

the

expr

essi

on of

the

bulg

es va

ries

betw

een

0, 1

, and

4

the

axia

l, ve

ry p

rono

unce

d bu

lge

reac

hes

the

mid

dle

of th

e di

aph.

, a la

t. bu

lge

is la

ckin

g

the

expr

essi

on o

f the

bul

ges

varie

s be

twee

n 0,

7

expr

essi

on 0

is ra

re, e

xpre

ssio

n 7 o

ccur

s in

mos

t cas

es

the

prox

imal

bul

ges

are

stro

ng b

ut s

hort,

nev

er re

achi

ng th

e m

iddl

e of

the

diap

hysi

s

the

cros

s se

ctio

n of

the

diap

hysi

s is

som

ewha

t sm

alle

r tha

n th

e pr

ox. e

piph

ysis

the

diap

hysi

s is

sle

nder

, but

can

be

stro

nger

in a

dult

stag

s

the

diap

hysi

s is

alw

ays

slen

der

the

diap

hysi

s is

very

sle

nder

and

elo

ngat

ed

Talu

s

post

erio

r

view

0 1 2 3 gl 0 D

escr

iptio

n of

cha

ract

er s

tate

s In

the

diap

hysi

s has

a m

ediu

m d

iam

eter

the

diap

hysi

s is

slen

der

the

diap

hysi

s is

ver

y sl

ende

r

the

diap

hysi

s is

stro

ng

0 1 th

e fo

ram

en c

an h

ave

a sm

all o

r wid

er o

peni

ng

2 th

e fo

ram

en h

as a

wid

e, p

oste

riorly

elo

ngat

ed o

peni

ng

smal

l ste

p be

twee

n th

e ed

ge o

f the

sus

t. ta

li an

d th

e ar

t. fa

cet o

f the

cal

c. s

haft

77

3 th

e ca

nalis

met

atar

si ca

n en

d in

one

sm

all f

oram

en o

r in

two

smal

l for

amin

a

4 th

e ca

nalis

met

atar

si ca

n en

d in

one

wid

er fo

ram

en a

nd a

net

wor

k of

por

es

5 th

e ca

nalis

met

atar

si e

nds

alw

avs

in tw

o fo

ram

ina

1 2 3 4 5

the

U-s

hape

d sc

ore

is la

ckin

g in

a fe

w c

ases

the

U-s

hape

d sc

ore

occu

rs w

ith a

freq

uenc

y up

to 7

5%

the

U-s

hape

d sco

re o

ccur

s w

ith a

freq

uenc

y up

to 5

0%

the

U-s

hape

d sco

re is

rare

a U

-sha

oed s

core

is a

lwav

s la

ckin

a in

the

orox

imal

face

t

76

0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5

the

mar

gin

of th

e di

stal

troc

hlea

show

s a

wea

k V

-sha

pe

the

mar

gin

of th

e di

stal

troc

hlea

show

s a

wea

k w

avel

ine

the

mar

gin

of th

e di

stal

troc

hlea

is fl

at

the

mar

gin

of th

e di

st. t

r. is

wav

y, e

ndin

g in

an

elon

gate

d pe

ak a

xial

ly

The

1st p

hala

nx p

ost.

show

s tw

o sh

ort,

wea

kly

expr

esse

d bu

lges

ant

erio

rly

the

axia

l bul

ge is

elo

ngat

ed a

nd m

ore

pron

ounc

ed to

geth

er w

ith (

0)

toge

ther

with

cha

ract

er st

ate

(0) o

ccur

s (3

)

the

axia

l bul

ge is

wea

k bu

t rou

gh, r

each

ing

the

mid

dle

of th

e di

aphy

sis

the

tend

on a

ttach

men

t late

ral, o

n th

e m

iddl

e of

the

diap

hysi

s var

ies

in it

s ex

pres

sion

the

tend

. att.

Lat

., on

the

mid

. of t

he d

iaph

. is

expr

esse

d as

a tu

bero

sity

in m

ost c

ases

char

acte

r sta

te (1

) is

alw

ays

deve

lope

d

the

tend

. an.

is e

xpre

ssed

onl

y by

a ro

ugh

surf

ace

the

lat.

tend

. att.

on

the

diap

hysi

s is

loca

ted

very

dis

tally

two

mar

ked

tube

rosi

ties a

xial

lv a

nd la

tera

llv a

re lo

cate

d on

the

mid

dle

of th

e di

aohv

sis

0 th

e pr

oc. c

orac

oide

us is

sm

all

1 th

e pr

oc. c

orac

oide

us fo

rms

a pr

onou

nced

pea

k I

0 th

e la

tera

l ext

ensi

on o

f the

ridg

e at

the

corp

us ta

li va

ries

in it

s pr

oxim

al a

nd d

ista

l par

t 79

1

the

lat.

ext.

of th

e rid

ge a

t the

c. t

ali i

s eq

ual i

n its

pro

xim

al a

nd d

ista

l par

t

2 I the la

t. ex

t. of

the

ridge

is g

reat

er in

its

prox

imal

par

t tha

n in

its

dist

al p

art

3 0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3

the

lat.

ridge

at t

he c

. tal

i is

pron

ounc

ed in

its

prox

imal

par

t and

end

s in

the

dist

al p

art

troc

hlea

tali

dist

alis

with

out a

V-s

hape

d pi

t

a V

-sha

ped

pit i

n th

e tr

. tal

is d

ist.

occu

rrs

in a

few

cas

es

a V

-sha

ped

pit o

ccur

rs w

ith a

freq

uenc

y of

abo

ut 5

0%

a V

-sha

ped

pit o

ccur

rs in

mos

t cas

es

troc

hlea

tali

dist

alis

with

a fl

at U

-sha

ped p

it

troc

hlea

tali

dist

alis

with

a d

eep,

ver

tical

pit

a pi

t in

the

troc

hlea

tali

dist

alis

is la

ckin

g

troc

hlea

tali

dist

alis

with

a tr

ansv

ersa

lly d

irect

ed p

it

troc

hlea

tali

dist

alis

with

a s

mal

l dep

ress

ion

axia

lly

I 80

-

81

ske

leta

l e

lem

en

t

0 1 2

Tal

us

post

. vie

w

~

the

mar

gin

of t

he d

ista

l tro

chle

a is

wea

kly

V-s

hape

d

the

mar

gin

of th

e di

stal

troc

hlea

show

s (0

) and

(3) w

ith a

n eq

ual f

requ

ency

char

acte

r sta

te (3

) occ

urs

with

a h

ighe

r fre

quen

cy th

an (

0)

Tal

us

ant.

view

1st P

h. a

nt.

Dos

t.vie

w

1st P

h.an

t.

1st P

h.an

t.

top

view

1st P

h.an

t.

post

. vie

w

1st P

h. p

ost.

post

. vie

w

1st P

h. p

ost.

post

. vie

w

1st P

h. p

ost.

post

. vie

w

4 th

e di

aphy

sis i

s es

peci

ally

stro

ng

0 th

e 1s

t pha

. ant

. sho

ws

a de

ep U

-sha

ped s

core

pos

t., in

the

mid

dle

of th

e an

t. fa

cet

Page 12: The first complete skeleton of Megaloceros verticornis ...The first articulated skeleton of a young male of Meguloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) from Bilshausen. (Meischner & Schneider

skel

etal

$

elem

ent

8 D

escr

iptio

n of

cha

ract

er s

tate

s 3

the

mar

gin

of th

e di

stal

troc

hlea

form

s a

wea

k w

avel

ine

the

mar

gin

of t

he d

ista

l tro

chle

a sh

ows

(0) a

nd (5

) with

equ

al fr

eque

ncy

the

mar

gin

of t

he d

ista

l tro

chle

a is

flat

tene

d

the

mar

ain

of t

he d

ista

l tro

chle

a is

flat

tene

d. b

ut w

avv

in a

few

cas

es

0

2

93

0)

'p 8 0 1 2 3 4

the

axia

l bul

ge is

esp

ecia

lly e

lava

ted

in m

ost c

ases

the

axia

l bul

ge is

alm

ost e

spec

ially

ela

vate

d

Des

crip

tion

of c

hara

cter

sta

tes

a br

owtin

e (A

t) is

lack

ing

the

brow

tine

inse

rts h

igh

abov

e th

e bu

rr, f

orm

ing

an a

cute

ang

le w

ith th

e be

am

the

brow

tine

inse

rts 4

cm

abo

ve th

e bu

rr, a

t rig

ht a

ngle

s to

the

beam

the

brow

tine

inse

rts d

irect

ly a

bove

the

burr

, for

min

g an

obt

use

angl

e w

tth th

e be

am

the

brow

tine

is fl

atte

ned,

with

furc

ated

end

s

197

1st P

h. p

ost.

0 th

e sa

gita

lly d

irect

ed s

core

in th

e di

stal

troc

hlea

is a

lway

s sy

mm

etric

al

post

. vie

w

1 th

e s.

dire

cted

sc.

in th

e di

st. t

. is

sym

m. o

r asy

mm

. with

an

equa

l fre

quen

cy

2 th

e sa

gita

lly d

irect

ed s

core

in th

e di

stal

troc

hlea

is a

lway

s as

ymm

etric

al

1st P

h. p

ost.

0 th

e la

tera

l edg

e of

the

1st p

ha. p

ost.

is s

light

ly b

ent i

nwar

ds

ant.

view

1

the

late

ral e

dge

of th

e 1s

t pha

. pos

t. is

slig

htly

ben

t inw

ards

in m

ost c

ases

2 th

e la

tera

l edg

e of

the

1st p

ha. p

ost

is s

traig

ht. n

ot b

ent i

nwar

ds

tst P

h. p

ost.

0 th

e di

aphy

sis

is s

trong

ant.

view

1

the

diap

hysi

s is

sle

nder

2 th

e di

aphy

sis

is v

ery

slen

der,

axia

lly c

urve

d in

war

d

3 th

e ax

ial b

ulge

is e

spec

ially

pro

noun

ced,

thic

kene

d

2nd

Ph.

ant

. 0

the

dist

al tr

ochl

ea fo

rms

an e

long

ated

pea

k ax

ially

-

94

-

95

-

96

the

dist

al tr

ochl

ea fo

rms

an e

long

ated

pea

k ax

ially

in m

ost c

ases

the

dist

al tr

ochl

ea s

how

s a

wea

kly

expr

esse

d pe

ak a

xial

ly

the

dist

al tr

ochl

ea s

how

s tw

o sh

ort D

eakS

axi

allv

and

late

rallv

5 th

e br

owtin

e is

alm

ost r

educ

ed

I 3r

d P

hal.

I 0 l

the

sole

of t

he 3

rd p

hala

nx is

axi

ally

edg

ed

0

botto

m si

de

3rd

Phal

,

1 th

e so

le o

f the

3rd

pha

lanx

is b

ent i

nwar

ds a

xial

ly, n

ot e

dged

in s

ever

al c

ases

la

t. pa

rt of

the

fac.

in c

onta

ct w

ith th

e 2n

d ph

al. a

s br

oad

as th

e ax

ial p

art o

f the

fac.

, el

onga

ted

prox

.

a se

cond

ant

erio

r tin

e (A

2) is

lack

ing

post

, vie

w

lat.

part

of t

he f.

in c

onta

ct w

ith th

e 2n

d ph

a. is

nar

row

, but

ver

y el

onga

ted

prox

., gi

rdin

g th

e ax

. par

t of t

he f.

pro

x.

3rd

Pha

l. 0

3rd

phal

anx

with

a tr

iang

ular

sha

pe in

late

ral v

iew

lat.

view

1

3rd

Dha

lanx

dor

sallv

arc

hed.

roun

ded

I 2 0 1 2

. _

-

the

A2 in

serts

dire

ctly

abo

ve th

e A

1

the

A2 in

serts

cle

arly

abo

ve th

e A

1

a se

cond

ant

erio

r tin

e (A

2) is

lack

ing

the

A2 is

wea

ker t

han

the

A1

the

A2 is

stro

naer

than

the

A1

antle

r

0 1 0 1

2 3 4 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 0 1 2 3 4 5 x

0 th

e be

am fo

rms

a si

mpl

e pe

ak

1 th

e be

am e

nds

with

a b

ifurc

atio

n

2 th

ree-

poin

t ant

ler

3 fo

ur-p

oint

ant

ler

4 fiv

e-po

int a

ntle

r

5 si

x po

ints

or m

ore

6 pa

lmat

ed a

ntle

r

7

tota

lly d

iffer

ent c

onst

ruct

ion

x no

beam

a th

ird a

nter

ior t

ine

(A3)

is la

ckin

g

A3

is d

evel

oped

post

erio

r tin

es a

re la

ckin

g

post

erio

r tin

es a

re ra

re, r

ound

ed in

cro

ss s

ectio

n

post

erio

r tin

es a

re lo

ng, f

latte

ned

post

erio

r tin

es a

re n

umer

ous

but v

ery

shor

t

post

erio

r tin

es a

re a

lmos

t red

uced

the

antle

rs s

how

no

palm

atio

n

the

palm

atio

n is

rest

ricte

d to

the

term

inal

fork

the

beam

and

the

tines

are

pal

mat

ed

a ro

unde

d be

am m

erge

s to

a s

trong

ly d

evel

oped

pal

m

term

inal

tine

s ar

e la

ckin

g

the

beam

end

s w

ith a

sim

ple

bifu

rcat

ion

term

inal

tine

s so

lely

orie

ntat

ed a

nter

iorly

term

inal

tine

s or

ient

ated

ant

erio

rly in

mos

t cas

es

term

inal

tine

s w

ell b

alan

ced

orie

ntat

ed a

nter

iorly

and

pos

terio

rly

term

inal

tine

s or

ient

ated

pos

terio

rly in

mos

t cas

es

term

inal

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lely

orie

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ed p

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riorly

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rcat

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es a

re la

ckin

g

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ed tin

es a

re r

are

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rcat

ed ti

nes

are

frequ

ent

beam

sho

rt. r

ound

ed

beam

elo

ngat

ed, r

ound

ed

beam

elo

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latte

nded

beam

ext

rem

ely

long

, rou

nded

, mer

ging

into

a p

lam

beam

long

, rou

nded

, mer

ging

into

a p

lam

beam

ext

rem

ely

shor

t, m

ergi

ng in

to a

pla

m

nobe

am

-

101

2nd

Ph.

ant

. 0

the

dist

al tr

ochl

ea is

axi

ally

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ttle

broa

der t

han

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rally

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. vie

w

1 th

e di

stal

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hlea

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ly c

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ly b

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tera

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ant

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the

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imal

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phys

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how

s no

pit

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view

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the

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xim

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99

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r

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of t

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ion

of t

ines

beam

Page 13: The first complete skeleton of Megaloceros verticornis ...The first articulated skeleton of a young male of Meguloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) from Bilshausen. (Meischner & Schneider

skel

etal

el

emen

t be

am

surfa

ce

beam

posi

tion

a,

D s 0

beam

leng

th

6

skel

etal

2

elem

ent

a pe

arly

sur

face

to th

e be

am is

lack

ing

11

0

ethm

oid

Des

crip

tion o

f cha

ract

er s

tate

s

Ded

icle

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0 0 1 2

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ont

Des

crip

tion

of c

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cter

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tes

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ity la

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vacu

ity s

mal

l

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ity n

early

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nate

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inea

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bone

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imal

orifi

ces

1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 x 0 1

a pe

arly

sur

face

is w

eakl

y ex

pres

sed

a pe

arly

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face

is s

trong

ly e

xpre

ssed

a pe

arly

sur

face

is m

ost e

xten

sive

ly e

xpre

ssed

11

1 sk

ull

the

beam

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e di

rect

ed u

prig

ht, n

early

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alle

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ed

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beam

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ope

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tle tr

ansv

ersa

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i th

e be

ams

slop

e a

little

tran

sver

sally

, are

elo

ngat

ed c

auda

lly, e

xcee

ding

the

neck

the

beam

s be

nd tr

ansv

ersa

lly, p

oste

riorly

and

are

cur

ved

uprig

ht

11

3

uppe

r th

e be

am is

cur

ved

horiz

onta

lly, t

he a

ntle

r is

broa

dene

d tra

nsve

rsal

ly

the

beam

inse

rts tr

ansv

ersa

lly a

t the

sku

ll, th

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tler i

s tra

nsve

rsal

ly d

irect

ed

114

uppe

r no

bea

m

mol

ars

the

beam

s ar

e ve

ry s

hort,

less

than

30

cm

leng

th o

f the

bea

m 3

0 - 8

0 cm

11

5 up

per

vacu

ity

-~

prem

olar

s

prem

olar

s

0 1 0 1

leng

th o

f the

bea

m u

p to

100

cm

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th o

f the

bea

m u

p to

150

cm

, lof

ty

sutu

res

of th

e sk

ull a

re a

lmos

t vis

ible

in a

dult

indi

vidu

als

sutu

res

of th

e sk

ull n

early

com

plet

e co

nnat

ed in

adu

lt in

divi

dual

s

no c

ingu

lum

occ

urs

on th

e up

per

P4

a w

eak

cina

ulum

occ

urs

in th

e u

me

r P4

chec

k-te

eth

0 1

0 1 2

ante

rior,

lingu

al w

ing

of th

e pr

emol

ars w

ithou

t fol

ds in

side

, or w

ith o

ne s

impl

e fo

ld

ante

rior,

lingu

al w

ing

of th

e pr

emol

ars

with

a re

ticul

ated

fold

insi

de

ento

styl

i are

stro

ngly

dev

elop

ed

ento

styl

i are

sm

all,

not a

lway

s ab

unda

nt

ento

styl

i are

lack

ing

0 1 0 1 2 3 0

uppe

r mol

ars

show

labi

ally

an

equa

l, un

iform

row

,

the

row

of t

he u

p. te

eth

has

a st

ep-li

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bial

ly, s

hifte

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fold

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side

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ante

rior w

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of th

e pr

otoc

one

are

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ing

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ple

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s in

side

the

ant.

win

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e ar

e cl

early

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elop

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furc

ated

fold

s in

side

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ant.

win

g of

the

prot

ocon

e fo

rm a

n is

land

insi

de (A

lces

)

fold

s in

side

the

ant.

win

g re

ticul

ated

(Ran

gife

r)

an u

pper

can

ine

is s

trong

ly d

evel

oped

in d

4 5 6 x 0

leng

th o

f the

bea

m u

p to

200

cm

, lof

ty

leng

th o

f the

bea

m u

p to

250

cm

, tra

nsve

rsal

ly d

irect

ed

leng

th o

f the

bea

m u

p to

400

cm

, tra

nsve

rsal

ly d

irect

ed

nobe

am

11

7

uppe

r

pedi

cle

very

long

, circ

ular

in c

ross

-sec

tion

cani

ne

uppe

r mol

ars

1 2 0

an u

pper

can

ine

is ru

dim

enta

rily

deve

lope

d in

d

an u

pper

can

ine

is a

lway

s la

ckin

g

crow

n of

the

upp

er M

3 po

ster

iorly

dee

ply

notc

hed

1 2 x 1

lcro

wn

of t

he u

me

r M3

Dos

terio

rlv c

onna

ted

pedi

cle

shor

t, ci

rcul

ar in

cro

ss-s

ectio

n

pedi

cle

very

sho

rt, a

nter

ior-

post

erio

rly e

long

ated

in c

ross

-sec

tion

no D

edic

le

0 1 0 1 2 3 4

front

al b

one

not t

hick

ened

bet

wee

n th

e pe

dicl

es

119

man

dibl

e

front

al b

one

thic

kene

d an

d ar

ched

bet

wee

n th

e pe

dicl

es

expr

esse

d as

sim

ple,

roun

ded

cres

t

nuch

al c

rest

late

rally

stre

ngth

ened

, and

bro

aden

ed

120

man

dibl

e

nuch

al c

rest

form

s a

S-s

hape

P3

P4

nuch

al c

rest

form

s a

doub

le-S

-sha

pe

nuch

al c

rest

is a

ngul

ar in

the

mid

dle

0 th

e he

ight

of t

he o

ccip

ital b

one

betw

een

the

nuch

al c

rest

and

the

cond

yles

is lo

w

1 th

e oc

cipi

tal p

art i

s hi

gh

121

2 th

e oc

cipi

tal p

art i

s hi

gh, t

he n

ucha

l cre

st p

roje

cts

clea

rly b

ehin

d th

e co

ndyl

es

0

two

lacr

imal

orif

ices

1 on

e la

crim

al o

rific

e 1

22

man

dibl

e

M3

man

dibl

e

0 1 2 0 1 2 3

4 0 1 2 0

P3

not m

olar

ised

P3

with

a p

ost-

met

acris

tid

post

ento

- and

hyp

ocris

dtid

are

con

nate

d

P4

not m

olar

ised

a pr

aem

etac

ristid

is d

evel

oped

ento

coni

d an

d m

etac

onid

win

gs fu

sed,

form

ing

a di

agon

al c

rest

(A/c

es, R

angi

fer)

P4

alm

ost m

olar

ised

P4

alw

ays

mol

aris

ed

the

last

lobe

of t

he M

3 is

ver

y sm

all

the

last

lobe

of M

3 is

stro

ngly

dev

elop

ed, p

oste

riorly

roun

ded

the

last

lobe

is s

trong

ly d

evel

oped

, with

a p

oint

ed e

nd p

oste

riorly

in a

few

cas

es.

the

man

dibl

e is

nar

row

in c

ross

-sec

tion,

not

thic

kene

d

1 2

the

man

dibl

e is

a li

ttle

thic

kend

in c

ross

-sec

tion,

(wea

kly

pach

ygna

thou

s)

the

man

dibl

e is

ext

rem

ely

thic

kene

d in

cro

ss-s

ectlo

n (p

achy

gnat

hous

)

Page 14: The first complete skeleton of Megaloceros verticornis ...The first articulated skeleton of a young male of Meguloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) from Bilshausen. (Meischner & Schneider

302 Pfeiffer, T., Complete skeleton of Megaloceros

F e m u r location and development of the muscle attach- The caput and the great trochanter of each fe- ments (cha. 48) on the femur can be used to as- mur were not connected with the diaphyses, sign specimens to particular species in adult indi- while the distal epiphyses had just begun to fuse, viduals (Pfeiffer 1999a), but could not be indicating an age of less than three years. The determined exactly here. As in M. giganteus and

Page 15: The first complete skeleton of Megaloceros verticornis ...The first articulated skeleton of a young male of Meguloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) from Bilshausen. (Meischner & Schneider

Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl., Geowiss. Reihe 5 (2002) 303

Cervus, the diaphysis is rounded in cross section (cha. SO) , the fossa intercondylaris is deep, and the distance of the condyles is small (cha. 52). The femur of M. verticornis from Bilshausen has a rough, but flattened facies poplitea (cha. 51) by contrast to M. giganteus, where the facies po- plitea forms a rough, prominent tuberosity. This character is influenced by muscle development and individual age. Consequently, the relatively juvenile age of the individual from Bilshausen reflect the weaker expression of this feature.

T ib i a The proximal epiphyses are not fused to the dia- physes both of which were broken and subse- quently reconstructed. The morphological char- acters of the proximal and distal ends of the tibia are similar to those of Megaloceros gigan- teus, thus the internal peak of the tuberculum intercondylare clearly projects beyond the exter- nal apex (cha. 53) (compare figure 8 in Pfeiffer 1999c) and, in particular, the development of the distal facets exhibits the derived character states found in Megaloceros verticornis and M. gigan- teus (cha. 56, 57, 58). The dorsal facet that con- tacts the malleolus lateralis is especially pro- nounced (cha. 57).

C a l c a n e u s a n d t a l u s The calcaneus and talus of the right and left side yielded morphological data. The tuber calcanei

was not fused to the corpus calcanei. A small step between the edge of the sustentaculum tali and the articular facet of the calcaneus shaft (Pfeiffer 1999a: fig. 75a, la) represents a plesio- morphic character state (cha. 67).

The talus provides more information for the phylogenetic analysis, because all the characters utilised here can be studied in juvenile indivi- duals. The morphology of the talus of Megalo- ceros verticornis is generally similar to that of M. giganteus. An important, derived character is an axially directed depression in the trochlea tali distalis (cha. 72).

M e t a t a r s u s I11 + I V Both left and right metatarsals are complete, although their proximal part is reconstructed. The distal epiphyses were beginning to fuse with the diaphyses at the time of death. This ontoge- netic stage is consistent with an individual age of two years. Due to the young age of the specimen the diaphyses of MT I11 + IV are not connected distally. Character states for the distal MT I11 + IV are similar to those for Megaloceros giganteus (Pfeiffer 1999c: fig. 9).

P h a l a n g e s All phalanges of M. verticornis from Bilshausen could be studied. The epiphyses of the first and second phalanges, which fuse at the beginning of the second year in deer, are all completely fused

Fig. 4. A. Fragments of the skull and antler of an adult male of Megalo- ceros verticornis from SiiBenborn. B. The fron- tal bones are particularly thick. The strategic align- ment and distribution of trabecular bone is primar- ily related to the direc- tion of normal loading. This orientation and the thickening of the frontals was also observed in the specimen lrom SiiRen- born (IQW SUB 7117).

Page 16: The first complete skeleton of Megaloceros verticornis ...The first articulated skeleton of a young male of Meguloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) from Bilshausen. (Meischner & Schneider

304 Pfeiffer, T., Complete skeleton of Megaloceros

in the Bilshausen specimen. The first and second phalanges also have robust diaphyses and exhibit most morphological characters of Megaloceros (Pfeiffer 1999c: fig. 10).

Discussion and results

Many skeletal characters are influenced by onto- genetic growth patterns, sexual dimorphism, and functional adaptation, and may show high varia- bility within a cervid species (Pfeiffer 1999a). An important problem is that characters of antlers and skulls of juvenile individuals of one species with a complex antler morphology can appear similar to characters of antlers of adult stages of other species. As an example Cewus elaphus, and C. nippon e.g. can have a three-point antler stage in juvenile individuals that is comparable to the antler stage of an adult of Axis axis (Ta- ble 2, cha. 92). In most species of deer the su- tures of the skull are still almost visible in adult individuals, but are nearly completely erased in adult megalocerines (cha. 11 1). Juvenile megalo- cerines do not have pachygnathous mandibles as in most other species of deer, but they can be extremely pachygnathous in old individuals (Ta- ble 2, cha. 122). All antler- and skull characters in the data matrix (cha. 92-111, 122) are influ- enced by ontogenetic growth patterns. It is there- fore extremely important to specify the character development in adult individuals of all species in the phylogeny reconstruction.

Megaloceros verticornis from SiiBenborn and Voigtstedt (Kahlke 1956, 1960, 1965, 1969) shows, that palmation clearly increases in older individuals. The enormous weight of these an- tlers resulted in special adaptations in cranial morphology. Bone material had to be added at the linea nucha, and this became a nuchal crest in older stags. Adult male deer with wide spread antlers therefore show an extreme thickening of the frontal bones between the pedicles. The stra- tegic alignment and distribution of trabecular bone is primarily related to the principal direc- tion of normal loading. This orientation and thickening of the frontals was observed in an adult male of Megaloceros verticornis from SiiBenborn (Fig. 4). Similarly, an increase in an- tler development in Alces latifrons is related to the thickening of the frontals (Pfeiffer 1999b). Unfortunately, in the palaeontological literature the classification of the alcini is mainly based on adaptive characters (Azzaroli 1953, 1983, 1985, 1994). DIG& (2uul) & S C U S ~ the skull m f ; i c -

ters of the alcini in more detail noting the struc- tural adaptations made necessary by an increase of antler- and bodysize. The development of a nuchal crest, for example, could be observed in many cervid species with strong antlers, includ- ing E. tegulensis, Cewus elaphus, Dama dama, M. giganteus, and Alces latifrons. Such indepen- dently acquired characters seem to be highly homoplastic in cervids, and are difficult to use for determining phylogenetic relationships. This observation concords with the results of Scott & Janis (1993).

R e s u l t s of t h e c o m p u t e r - a i d e d c l ad i s - t i c a n a l y s i s The parsimony analysis (MP) using PAUP 4.0 re- sulted in a single most parsimonious tree (length 579, CI: 0.578). The robustness of the phylogeny was assessed using the bootstrap method (Fel-

Bootstrap

55

Parablastomeryx Blastomeryx Mosch. moschiferus C. suessenbornensis C. pygargus C. capreolus Rangif. tarandus Alces. alces Eucl. tegulensis Eucl. dicranios Megal. verticornis MegaLgiganteus C. el.acoronatus C. el. hippelaphus C. n. nippon C.n. hortulorum Axis. axis Dama. rhenana Dama. nestii 0. d. clactoniana 0. d. geiselana D.d. dama 0.d. mesopotarnica

Fig. 5. Majority rule consensus tree, after 1000 bootstrap re- samplings, describing the evolutionary relationships of 20 fos- sil and Recent cervids, and 3 outgroup artiodactyls as de- duced from 122 skeletal characters. At each node the bootstrap percentage (BP) is given. One single most parsimo- nious tree (MP) was found with the same topology (length = 579, CI = 0.5872). The monophyly of Megaloceros verticornis and M. giganteus ia w ~ l l q p ~ c d (BP ~ 1001.

Page 17: The first complete skeleton of Megaloceros verticornis ...The first articulated skeleton of a young male of Meguloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) from Bilshausen. (Meischner & Schneider

305 Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl., Geowiss. Reihe 5 (2002)

senstein 1985), and the maximum likelihood method (ML). The majority-rule consensus tree after 1000 bootstrap resamplings, describing the evolutionary relationships between 20 fossil and Recent cervids, and three outgroup artiodactyls based on a comparison of 122 skeletal characters obtain has the same topology as the MP tree (Fig. 5). The tree computed by the (ML) method differs only in the position of Axis, which is lo- cated in a clade with Darna in the ML analysis. At each node, the bootstrap percentage (BP) is given above the branch.

The family Cervidae is defined by 32 charac- ters at the basal node of the MP tree, and there is strong support for cervid monophyly from the bootstrap values (BP = 100). This result agrees with the phylogenetic analysis computed from molecular data (Cronin et al. 1996, Douzery & Randi 1997, Randi et al. 1998). The subfamilies, Odocoileinae and Cervinae, occurred as mono- phyletic groups within the Cervidae. Fourteen characters (BP = 70) define the telemetacarpal

Table 4

odocoileine deer, and 19 characters (BP = 97) define the plesiometacarpal Cervinae.

Within the Odocoileinae the genus Capreolus is considerably differentiated from the other taxa, with 19 characters defining its branch on the MP tree (BP = 100). Capreolus suessenbor- nensis (= C. cusanoides Kahlke 2001) from the late Lower Pleistocene of UntermaBfeld and the Middle Pleistocene of Germany (Mosbach, Mie- senheim, SiiBenborn) is nearly identical to its Recent relatives C. capreolus and C. pygargus in its skeletal characters. Three characters define the position of C. capreolus and the clade of C. pygargus and C. suessenbornensis, while one character defines C. suessenbornensis. These taxa differ only in body size and antler development, the diagnostic antler characters of C. cusanoides described by Kahlke (2001) can be included in the range of antler variation exhibited by C. suessenbornensis from Mosbach. Therefore C. cu- sanoides is assumed here to be a junior synonym of C. suessenbornensis.

Metric data for preserved teeth and postcranial skeletal elements of Megaloceros verticomis from Bilshausen (measurements after v. d. Driesch 1976).

Upper/ lower molars Mi M2 M3 ml m2 sin dex sin dex sin dex sin sin

max. length at crown-base in mm 26.0 29.0 (30.0) 29.5 29.0 29.0 29.5 (30.2) max. width at crown-base in mm 29.5 30.0 (31 .O) 29.5 29.5 18.5 19.0 18.2

Scapula height along the spine (HS in mm): 392.0 greatest length at the processus articularis (GLP) 90.0 width of the cavitas glenoidalis (BG) 61.5 length of the cavitas glenoidalis (LG) 72.5

Humerus

max. proximal width (BP) 117.0

Radius and Ulna greatest length of the radius (GLR) max. proximal width of the radius (BP) max. distal width of the radius (BD )

386.0 93.0 80.5

Metacarpus III+IV greatest length (GL in mm) 343.0 BP 65.0 BD 65.5

39.5 min. width of the diaphysis (KD)

Femur BP BD KD

Tibia BP BD

Calcaneus and talus

GL 176.0 GB 64.3

calcaneus

Metatarsus III+IV GL BP BD KD

143.5 116.5 42.5

119.0 78.5

talus 81.8 53.5

377.0 58.5 69.0 40.2

Phalanges anterior posterior 1" Ph. 2nd Ph. 3rd Ph. 1" Ph. 2nd Ph. 3rd Ph.

GL 80.0 61 .O 76.0 85.5 64.0 72.0 BP 34.0 33.5 36.8 33.8 KD 27.5 26.5 26.5 26.9 max. height (GH) 48.0 46.0

Page 18: The first complete skeleton of Megaloceros verticornis ...The first articulated skeleton of a young male of Meguloceros verticornis (Dawkins, 1868) from Bilshausen. (Meischner & Schneider

306 Pfeiffer, T., Complete skeleton of Megabceros

The association of Rangifer in a clade with Alces (BP = 96) is in contrast to the results of a study by (Cronin et al. 1996) based on K-casein DNA-data. Both genera, for example, share a derived morphology of the lower p4, and the clade is well supported by 25 characters in the analysis reported here. However, Rangifer taran- dus is considerably differentiated from Alces alces: 24 characters define R. tarandus, while 20 characters support A. alces.

The plesiometacarpal deer split into a Dama- lineage, defined by 26 characters (BP = 99), and a clade consisting of the fossil genera Euclado- ceros, Megaloceros, Cervus (fossil and Recent species), and the Recent species Axis, defined by 12 characters. The bootstrap value is low for this internal node (BP = 65, DI = +2).

As demonstrated by Pfeiffer (1999a) Axis shares many postcranial characters with the genus Cewus, and on the other hand, also with Dama, but locating Axis in a single clade with Cervus, Eucladoceros, and Megaloceros, involves 12 additional steps (by contrast to the 14 addi- tional steps, necessary to unit Axis in a clade with Dama), and this is reflected in the relatively low consistency index of the data set (CI: 0.578).

Tree topology within the Dama-lineage re- flects the evolution of this genus from the Plio- Pleistocene to the Holocene. In the Plio-Pleisto- cene Dama rhenana had evolved a three-point antler stage, followed in the Lower Pleistocene by Dama nestzi, with a 4-point antler without pal- mation, and then, in the Middle Pleistocene to Recent times, of fallow deer with palmated an- tlers. Considering the rich skeletal material of the Dama-lineage it can be observed that more than one character state may occur in a single species for a particular character. Quite often, both apomorphic and plesiomorphic character states, may occur in the same species as a poly- morphic character. Such apparently variable characters can yield important phylogenetic in- formation. Within the Darna-lineage it was possi- ble to follow the shift from a plesiomorphic char- acter state that occurs with a high frequency in Dama rhenana, which lies at the basis of the lineage, to an apomorphic character state in the stratigraphically younger Darna-species (Pfeiffer 1999a, in press).

The clade including Eucladoceros, Megaloceros and Cewus is defined by 23 characters (BP = 90). Comparing this data in detail, the characters 2, 4, 5, 6 and 9 (concerning cervical vertebrae), 76, 77, 78, 82, 83, 84, 85, (concerning lSt and 2"d phalanges), 95, 96, (concerning an-

tlers), and 105, 107, (concerning the skull) all support this node. Except the Japanese sika deer C. nippon nippon, all taxa in this clade are ro- bust cervids, with large and heavy antlers. The morphology of the cervical vertebrae is extre- mely influenced by the morphology and weight of the antlers, as demonstrated by Lengsfeld (1975) and Pfeiffer (1999a), and the phalanges need special adaptations to support the body weight (Pfeiffer 1999a, b). Therefore it should be taken into account that the high bootstrap value for this clade may be the result of homoplasy.

The clade including Megaloceros and Cervus is defined by 17 characters (BP=66). In particu- lar, the shared morphology of the tuberculum su- praglenoidale of the scapula (cha. 14), the simi- lar morphology of radius and ulna (cha. 26, 28, 29, 39, and the morphology of the upper M3 (cha. 118) was not observed in other plesiometa- carpal deer genera, and seems to support their rela tionship.

As in other phylogeny reconstructions com- puted from molecular data (Cronin et al. 1996, Douzery & Randi 1997, Randi etal. 1998) the Cervus clade including red deer and sika deer is well supported (17 characters, BP = 88). Within Cervus, the East-Asian sika deer Cervus nippon (BP = 96) appears to have been distinct from the European Cervus elaphus since the Pliocene (BP = 85). A large group of consistent charac- ters are present in Cervus, and appear to have persisted for a long time span. Moreover a study of bone material of Pseudaxis grayi Zdansky 1925 from Lower Pleistocene localities of the Shansi Basin in China shows evidence that I? grayi is an early, true member of Cervus nippon (Pfeiffer, in prep.).

Douzery & Randi (1997) calibrated divergence times on the basis of molecular data. In their study divergences of 3.3-7.1 Myr within the genus Cervus are postulated, and 0.4-2.5 Myr within Cervus elaphus.

Cervus elaphus was first identified in Europe from early Middle Pleistocene localities in Great Britain (Cromer Forest-bed, Lister 1996) and Germany (Voigtstedt, SiiBenborn, Mosbach, Kahlke, 1956, 1960, 1965, Koenigswald & Hein- rich 1999, Pfeiffer 1999a) represented by the fos- sil subspecies C. elaphus acoronatus. The antlers of Cervus elaphus acoronatus (= Cervus acoro- natus Beninde 1937) from Mosbach always lack a crown in the distal part, although this species exhibits a nearly identical postcranial character set to that of extant individuals of Cervus ela- phus hippelaphus. Three characters define C. e.

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Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl., Geowiss. Reihe 5 (2002) 307

acoronatus, while five define the extant C. ela- phus hippelaphus.

The monophyly of Megaloceros verticornis and M. giganteus is well supported (PB =loo, 27 steps), and these species share 15 postcranial character states do not occur in other plesiome- tacarpal deer species: the cranial facet of the 3rd and 4th cervical vertebrae (cha. 7), the shape of the cavitas glenoidalis of the scapula (cha. 12), the rounded scores in the fossa radialis of the humerus (cha. 21), the axially especially deep fossa olecrani (cha. 24), the development of the cranial facet of the radius (cha. 29, 30), character states of the distal tibia (cha. 56, 58), develop- ment of the proximal end of MC III+IV (cha. 61, 62), and the astragalus (cha. 72, 73). These characters seem to be diagnostic for giant deer, and support a close relationship between the two giant deer species which are combined in a sin- gle genus, Megaloceros, here.

Duma and Megaloceros clearly represent sepa- rate lineages within the main clade of plesiome- tacarpal deer, because they share relatively few postcranial skeletal character states. Moreover the topology of the MP tree supports the idea that the occurrence of palmate antlers in both genera must be the result of homoplasy.

Acknowledgements

I wish to thank Pro€ Dr. D. Meischner and Prof Dr. J. Schnei- der (Gottingen) for permission to study the giant deer from Bilshausen. Their kind support during my visits to Gottingen was of great help. Fig. 1 was provided by Prof Meischner. I wish to thank Prof. Dr. H.-D. Kahlke (Weimar), Prof. Dr. W. v. Koenigswald (Bonn), Dr. G. Bohme, and Prof. Dr. H.-P. Schultze (Berlin) for kindly discussing issues covered in this study. I am very grateful to various scientists and curators who allowed me to study material in their care: Dr. M. Ade, Dr. W.-D. Heinrich (Berlin), Prof. Dr. A. v. d. Driesch (Munich), Dr. W. Eckloff (Lubeck), Dr. A. Feiler (Dresden), Dr. D. Heinrich (Kiel), Dr. R. Hutterer (Bonn), Dr. H. Jung (Mainz), PD Dr. R.-D. Kahlke (Weimar), Prof. Dr. D. Mania, (Jena), Dr. U. Scheer (Essen), Dr. G. Gruber (Darmstadt), Dr. G. Storch, Dr. G. Plodowski, Prof. Dr. F. Schrenck (Frankfurt), Dr. R. Ziegler, Dr. E. Heizmann (Stuttgart), Mr. E. Zenker (Wiesbaden), Dr. L. Abbazzi, Prof Dr. D. Torre, Dr. L. Rook (Florence), Dr. L. Capasso Babato, Prof Dr. C. Petronio (Rome), Prof. Dr. B. Engesser (Basel), Prof. Dr. C. Guerin, Dr. M. FaurC (Lyon), Dr. S. Stuenes (Uppsala), Dr. A. Sutcliffe, Dr. J. Hooker, Dr. A. Currant (London), Prof. Dr. E. Tchernov, Dr. R. Rabinovich (Jerusalem), Dr. R. Tedford (New York), Dr. J. d. Vos (Leiden). I am grateful to Dr. J. Dunlop, and Dr. D. Unwin (Berlin) for help in cor- recting the English text, and to Mr. J.-P. Mendau for produ- cing Figs. 2 and 4, Mrs. E. Siebert (Berlin) for amending Fig. 1. I thank Prof. Dr. G. Arratia, Dr. D. Unwin, Prof Dr. W. v. Koenigswald, and Dr. R. Ziegler for detailed reviews. This investigation was made possible by financial support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).

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