Libralces

Extinct genus of deer

Libralces

Temporal range: 5.330–0.781 Ma

PreꞒ

Pliocene-Pleistocene

Libralces gallicus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Chordata
Class:  | Mammalia
Order:  | Artiodactyla
Family:  | Cervidae
Subfamily:  | Capreolinae
Tribe:  | Alceini
Genus:  | †Libralces
Azzaroli 1952[1]
Species

* †L. gallicus
* †L. minor
* †L. reynoldsi

Libralces was a genus of Eurasian deer that lived during the Pliocene epoch. It is notable for its 2+ meter wide antlers, comparable in size to those of Megaloceros.

Libralces fossils have been found from France to Tajikistan,[1] with the best-known examples being the French L. gallicus.

According to Jordi Agustí, Libralces was the ancestor of Megaloceros, though most other authorities regard it as a relative of moose, Alces.

In the Pleistocene, there were three genera of Holarctic moose-like deer — Cervalces, Alces, and Libralces. In contrast to modern Alces, the Villafranchian Libralces gallicus had very long-beamed, small-palmed antlers and a generalized skull with moderately reduced nasals; the Nearctic Cervalces had longer nasals and more complex antlers than Libralces. Azzaroli 1953 added Alces latiforns to Libralces, but this position has been challenged.[2] L. latifrons is now considered a synonym of Cervalces latifrons.[3][better source needed]

## Gallery

[edit]

* Partial skull of Libralces latifrons

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Libralces". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
2. ^ Kurtén, Björn; Anderson, Elaine (1980). Pleistocene Mammals of North America. Columbia University Press. p. 315\. ISBN 9780231037334.
3. ^ "Cervalces latifrons". Fossilworks.

Taxon identifiers

Libralces|

* Wikidata: Q568099
* GBIF: 4835581
* IRMNG: 1154146
* Paleobiology Database: 42677

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