Antifer

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Antifer
Temporal range: Late Pliocene-Late Pleistocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Suborder: Ruminantia
Family: Cervidae
Genus: Antifer
Ameghino (1889)
Binomial name
Antifer crassus
Rusconi, 1954

Antifer is an extinct genus of small herbivorous deer of the family Cervidae endemic to South America during the Late Pliocene to Late Pleistocene, living from 3.6 Ma-11,000 years ago and existing for approximately 3.589 million years.[1] Cervids first entered the formerly isolated continent of South America during the Pliocene as part of the Great American Interchange.

It would have been preyed upon by the Dire Wolf and the fox-like Theriodictis.

Taxonomy[edit]

Antifer was named by Ameghino (1889). It was assigned to Cervidae by Carroll (1988).[2]

Fossil distribution[edit]

The fossil remains are confined to southern Brazil, central Chile, and Argentina.

References[edit]

  1. ^ http://paleobackup.nceas.ucsb.edu:8110/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_no=42655&is_real_user=1 Antifer: Basic info.
  2. ^ R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. W.H. Freeman and Company