giant extinct deer - Fossil fragment - megaloceros giganteus - 10 cm - 55 cm

The Megaloceros (Megaloceros giganteus), also known as the giant deer, was an imposing extinct cervid that lived in Eurasia and North Africa during the Pleistocene and Holocene (about 400,000 – 8,000 years ago). The name Megaloceros in Ancient Greek means "from the giant horns" (literally, "with giant horns"). And indeed the distinctive feature of these enormous animals, capable of reaching up to 2 meters at the withers, were the antlers, which could span an impressive 3.5 meters and weigh up to 90 kg. Contrary to some past theories, the antlers were not an "evolutionary mistake" that caused their extinction, but the result of sexual selection, used by males in ritual combats to dominate rivals and attract females. Their annual growth required enormous energy expenditure and the intake of large amounts of calcium. They preferred open environments, such as prairies and open woodlands, and they were widespread across a broad geographic area, not only in Ireland, where many of their fossil remains have been found in peat bogs. They disappeared due to rapid climatic changes at the end of the last Ice Age. The progressive spread of forests at the expense of open spaces and the scarcity of calcium-rich plants made it difficult to sustain the growth of such large antlers, thus leading to their extinction. Our lot features an important fragment of an antler, with its base at the exact point where it began to branch from the animal’s skull, and it displays the full internal structure. An extremely distinctive lot, rich in charm and mystery, for true enthusiasts of rarities. Pedestal not included, made from reclaimed material and used only for photographic purposes. Happy bidding.

Estimation:€400

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