Xenokeryx

Ze-no-keh-riks.
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Liam Carter

Paleoanthropologist

Liam Carter explores the roots of humanity by studying early human fossils and artifacts. His ground-breaking work has provided a deeper understanding of our ancestors' lifestyles and social structures.

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Name

Xenokeryx ‭(‬alien/Strange horn‭)‬.

Phonetic

Ze-no-keh-riks.

Named By

Israel M.‭ ‬S�nchez,‭ ‬Juan L.‭ ‬Cantalapiedra,‭ ‬Mar�a R�os,‭ ‬Victoria Quiralte‭ & ‬Jorge Morales‭ ‬-‭ ‬2015.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Mammalia,‭ ‬Artiodactyla,‭ ‬Ruminantia,‭ ‬Palaeomerycidae.

Diet

Herbivore.

Species

X.‭ ‬amidalae‭

Size

Unavailable.

Known locations

Spain.

Time Period

Miocene.‭

Fossil representation

Partial skull remains.

In Depth

       Xenokeryx is a genus of palaeomerycid artiodactyl mammal that lived in western Europe during the‭ ‬Miocene.‭ ‬Xenokeryx is noted to‭ ‬have a bizarre T-shaped horn rising up from the back of the skull.‭ ‬This horn is the inspiration of the type species name X.‭ ‬amidalae,‭ ‬which is a reference to the character of Queen Amidala from Star Wars:‭ ‬The Phantom Menace who‭ ‬wore an elaborate head dress.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Systematics and Evolution of the Miocene Three-Horned Palaeomerycid Ruminants‭ (‬Mammalia,‭ ‬Cetartiodactyla‭)‬.‭ ‬-‭ ‬PLOS ONE‭ ‬10‭ (‬12‭)‬.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Israel M.‭ ‬S�nchez,‭ ‬Juan L.‭ ‬Cantalapiedra,‭ ‬Mar�a R�os,‭ ‬Victoria Quiralte‭ & ‬Jorge Morales‭ ‬-‭ ‬2015.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT