Bison antiquus
5642105
208368339
2008-04-26T18:46:26Z
Zrs 12
6310355
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Bison antiquus''
| status = not applicable (prehistoric)
| image= Bison antiquus p1350717.jpg
| image_caption = ''Bison antiquus''
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
| ordo = [[Artiodactyla]]
| familia = [[Bovidae]]
| genus = ''[[Bison]]''
| species = '''''B. antiquus'''''
| binomial = ''Bison antiquus''
| binomial_authority = [[Joseph Leidy|Leidy]], 1852
}}
'''Bison antiquus''' sometimes called the ''ancient bison'', was the most common large [[herbivore]] of the [[North America]]n continent for over ten thousand years, and is a direct ancestor of the living [[American bison]].
During the [[Pleistocene|Pleistocene Ice Age]], [[Steppe Wisent|steppe wisent]] (''Bison priscus''), migrated from [[Siberia]] into [[Alaska]]. This species then developed into the [[Bison latifrons|long-horned bison]] (''Bison latifrons'') which lived in North America for 3 million years. About 22,000 years ago, the long-horned bison gave way{{clarifyme|Date=November 2007}}<!-- Did it evolve into the ancient bison or what? --> to the ''Bison antiquus''. ''B. antiquus'' were abundant from 18,000 years ago until about 10,000 years ago, when they became extinct, along with most of the [[Pleistocene megafauna]]. ''B. antiquus'' is the most commonly recovered herbivore from the [[La Brea tar pits]].
''B. antiquus'' was taller, had larger bones and horns and was 15-25% larger overall than modern bison. From tip to tip, the horns of ''B. antiquus'' measured approximately 3 feet (nearly one meter).
[[Image:Bison antiquus p1350762.jpg|thumb|left|Bison antiquus skull]]
== External links ==
*[http://www.backyardnature.net/loess/~bisft1.htm Ancient Bison foot fossil]
*[http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_name=Bison+antiquus Paleobiology Database - Bison antiquus]
==Sources==
*University of Texas
*Montana State University - Bozeman
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[[Category:Bison]]
[[Category:Pleistocene extinctions]]
[[Category:Pleistocene mammals]]
[[Category:Prehistoric bovids]]
[[Category:Extinct animals of the United States]]
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[[pt:Bisão-antigo]]
[[zh:古風野牛]]