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Description
Sivatherium maurusium
Giraffes are some of the most iconic species of megafauna alive today. Among the tallest of all mammals, inhabiting the African Savannah they are instantly recognizable by their long necks and distinctive body plan. Another cousin, the Okapi, also known as the jungle or zebra giraffe, inhabits the tropical rainforests of the Congo. Not even half the size of their savannah dwelling cousins, they do represent what most giraffids looked like before one group embarked on their evolutionary journey of being high browsers. Some species grew longer necks to browse off trees, others lived closer to ground, and both grazed and browsed off low lying foliage and grasses. One genus of giraffes took the latter approach went even further in terms of size and became one of the largest giraffids that ever walked the planet, Sivatherium.

Named after one of the main Hindu Deities, Shiva, this genus of giraffid inhabited both Africa and India. This species featured in the profile, Sivatherium maurusium was the last species and lived in central Africa to India from the early Pliocene to early Pleistocene (possibly later as will be discussed). Fossil finds have primarily been found in Africa, however, a handful of fossils from India show this animal did live in parts of India.

History of Discovery:

In 1892, French paleontologist Auguste Pomel was sent fossils from Tanzania. Workers recovered the fossils from a site close to Lake Tanganyika. Among which was a fragmentary cranium, a molar as well as two distinctive ossicones atop the skull. He noted similarities between this animal as well as the type species of Sivatherium (Sivatherium giganteum) from India described almost 50 years prior. However, it was slightly smaller and had a different ossicone structure, and thus dubbed it Sivatherium maurusium around a year after the discovery in 1893.

Description:

At around 6-6.5ft tall at the shoulder, Sivatherium maurusium resembled a bulky Okapi in build. What set it apart, was its distinctive ossicones on the skull. It had two pairs that were present on both species. One forward pair that were basically two lumps on the head, the other resembled antlers from deer. The larger type species had ossicones that resembled moose antlers that splayed out. This species had ossicones that looked like the foundational antler of a deer (antler excluding the pointed tines). Weight is something that has been up in the air for this species since no complete skeleton exists for this animal. Ranging from being around 800-900lbs, slightly larger than the modern Okapi, to over 1000lbs. However, recent fossil evidence suggests it may have been upwards of 1500lbs to 2600lbs. If this new figure is to be believed, and with Sivatherium maurusium being slightly smaller than Sivatherium giganteum, it could be extrapolated that it weighed 950-1450lbs. Thus, making this genus one of the largest ruminants that ever walked the planet.

Habitat and contemporaries:

Habitat-wise, this animal lived primarily in Savannah Grasslands as well as more open woodland in Africa and India. During the Miocene, Africa was largely covered with dense forests and scattered woodlands, resembling regions like the modern temperate-cloud forests of India. By the time Sivatherium evolved in Africa, woodland became far more scattered, and there was an explosion of grassland across the continent. Its teeth, more or less resembling an Okapis would have enabled it to have had a mixed diet allowing it to both browse and graze off vegetation. During the peak of Sivatherium’s reign (mid-to-late Pliocene) many recognizable megafauna would have been seen across Savannah and woodland of Africa with some outliers here and there. Species of Elephants like modern-day Loxodonta and Gompotheres would have been around on the plains as well as their distant cousins, the Deinotheres. In terms of predators, early forms of lions, as well as cheetahs, hyenas are some examples, however, Saber-Toothed Cats like Megantereon and Dinofelis would have been seen as well. Around the size of some smaller buffalo or elands, a full grown, healthy adult would have had few predators, but mobs of lions, saber-toothed cats or hyenas could have taken down a weak or sick individual.

Behavior:

Behavior-wise, paleontologists think they may have had a behavior repertoire similar to modern okapis. Predominantly solitary unless it was a female raising her calf. Whether or not they used their antler-like ossicones for combat is open to interpretation. Modern giraffes and okapis don’t use them for combat, however, if it evolved the ossicones to be structured like cervid antlers, it’s possible they could have used them for combat. Without observing an actual animal, this question will never be answered.

Extinction and POSSIBLE late survival:

The extinction of this animal is believed to have been down to climate change. By end of the Pliocene, a host of megafaunal animals died out, almost all of the gompotheres, the primitive Deinotheres, basal giraffoids across the old world, and of course Sivatherium. However, some paleontologists believe this animal went extinct much later than the common consensus. In India, cave paintings dated to around 6-8000 B.C.E. show what appears to be a Sivatherium as well as a handful of figurines from the region of Iraq. However, Paleontologist Darren Naish believes these figurines and Paintings depict deer. Specifically, a Fallow Deer. These species were prevalent in the region, as well as the fact that their antler structure is similar to Sivatherium. Given the fact that the art is very basic, being just a solid shape with an outline, it’s likely that it’s a stylized depiction of a deer.

Whatever the paintings or sculptures are, Sivathere or not, they are extinct. This magnificent animal now only exists in our imagination and paleoart.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
My acquaintance Lgcfm and Ulquiorra made this, and it was just released online today. I had plans to do this later, but given it was just released, I decided to top up this one.
The size of this animal as well as the weight was extrapolated from estimating in this image:
2 by nankeyike on DeviantArt
Yeah, it’s an estimate, but I didn’t go too overboard.
The pose is based off this image from my local zoo, Brookfield Zoo featuring a mother Okapi and her calf:
Okapi calf is born at Brookfield Zoo - Chicago Tribune
Will this be in PMP? No. As I said earlier, Cenozoic Africa is on the list, but not Plio-Pleistocene Africa. It just doesn’t have as many unique animals as what I’m targeting. As well as India, I can’t find as many sources on the Plio-Pleistocene fauna of India.

Anyways, PMP ep3 pt5 is coming likely before the end of the year or maybe even Christmas. However, I have another, more iconic profile coming in a few days. What is it? Well... you'll see

Model and Skin by Lgcfm and Ulquiorra:
African Sivatherium (Lgcfm & Ulquiorra) | ZT2 Download Library Wiki | Fandom

Description
Sivatherium maurusium
Giraffes are some of the most iconic species of megafauna alive today. Among the tallest of all mammals, inhabiting the African Savannah they are instantly recognizable by their long necks and distinctive body plan. Another cousin, the Okapi, also known as the jungle or zebra giraffe, inhabits the tropical rainforests of the Congo. Not even half the size of their savannah dwelling cousins, they do represent what most giraffids looked like before one group embarked on their evolutionary journey of being high browsers. Some species grew longer necks to browse off trees, others lived closer to ground, and both grazed and browsed off low lying foliage and grasses. One genus of giraffes took the latter approach went even further in terms of size and became one of the largest giraffids that ever walked the planet, Sivatherium.

Named after one of the main Hindu Deities, Shiva, this genus of giraffid inhabited both Africa and India. This species featured in the profile, Sivatherium maurusium was the last species and lived in central Africa to India from the early Pliocene to early Pleistocene (possibly later as will be discussed). Fossil finds have primarily been found in Africa, however, a handful of fossils from India show this animal did live in parts of India.

History of Discovery:

In 1892, French paleontologist Auguste Pomel was sent fossils from Tanzania. Workers recovered the fossils from a site close to Lake Tanganyika. Among which was a fragmentary cranium, a molar as well as two distinctive ossicones atop the skull. He noted similarities between this animal as well as the type species of Sivatherium (Sivatherium giganteum) from India described almost 50 years prior. However, it was slightly smaller and had a different ossicone structure, and thus dubbed it Sivatherium maurusium around a year after the discovery in 1893.

Description:

At around 6-6.5ft tall at the shoulder, Sivatherium maurusium resembled a bulky Okapi in build. What set it apart, was its distinctive ossicones on the skull. It had two pairs that were present on both species. One forward pair that were basically two lumps on the head, the other resembled antlers from deer. The larger type species had ossicones that resembled moose antlers that splayed out. This species had ossicones that looked like the foundational antler of a deer (antler excluding the pointed tines). Weight is something that has been up in the air for this species since no complete skeleton exists for this animal. Ranging from being around 800-900lbs, slightly larger than the modern Okapi, to over 1000lbs. However, recent fossil evidence suggests it may have been upwards of 1500lbs to 2600lbs. If this new figure is to be believed, and with Sivatherium maurusium being slightly smaller than Sivatherium giganteum, it could be extrapolated that it weighed 950-1450lbs. Thus, making this genus one of the largest ruminants that ever walked the planet.

Habitat and contemporaries:

Habitat-wise, this animal lived primarily in Savannah Grasslands as well as more open woodland in Africa and India. During the Miocene, Africa was largely covered with dense forests and scattered woodlands, resembling regions like the modern temperate-cloud forests of India. By the time Sivatherium evolved in Africa, woodland became far more scattered, and there was an explosion of grassland across the continent. Its teeth, more or less resembling an Okapis would have enabled it to have had a mixed diet allowing it to both browse and graze off vegetation. During the peak of Sivatherium’s reign (mid-to-late Pliocene) many recognizable megafauna would have been seen across Savannah and woodland of Africa with some outliers here and there. Species of Elephants like modern-day Loxodonta and Gompotheres would have been around on the plains as well as their distant cousins, the Deinotheres. In terms of predators, early forms of lions, as well as cheetahs, hyenas are some examples, however, Saber-Toothed Cats like Megantereon and Dinofelis would have been seen as well. Around the size of some smaller buffalo or elands, a full grown, healthy adult would have had few predators, but mobs of lions, saber-toothed cats or hyenas could have taken down a weak or sick individual.

Behavior:

Behavior-wise, paleontologists think they may have had a behavior repertoire similar to modern okapis. Predominantly solitary unless it was a female raising her calf. Whether or not they used their antler-like ossicones for combat is open to interpretation. Modern giraffes and okapis don’t use them for combat, however, if it evolved the ossicones to be structured like cervid antlers, it’s possible they could have used them for combat. Without observing an actual animal, this question will never be answered.

Extinction and POSSIBLE late survival:

The extinction of this animal is believed to have been down to climate change. By end of the Pliocene, a host of megafaunal animals died out, almost all of the gompotheres, the primitive Deinotheres, basal giraffoids across the old world, and of course Sivatherium. However, some paleontologists believe this animal went extinct much later than the common consensus. In India, cave paintings dated to around 6-8000 B.C.E. show what appears to be a Sivatherium as well as a handful of figurines from the region of Iraq. However, Paleontologist Darren Naish believes these figurines and Paintings depict deer. Specifically, a Fallow Deer. These species were prevalent in the region, as well as the fact that their antler structure is similar to Sivatherium. Given the fact that the art is very basic, being just a solid shape with an outline, it’s likely that it’s a stylized depiction of a deer.

Whatever the paintings or sculptures are, Sivathere or not, they are extinct. This magnificent animal now only exists in our imagination and paleoart.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
My acquaintance Lgcfm and Ulquiorra made this, and it was just released online today. I had plans to do this later, but given it was just released, I decided to top up this one.
The size of this animal as well as the weight was extrapolated from estimating in this image:
2 by nankeyike on DeviantArt
Yeah, it’s an estimate, but I didn’t go too overboard.
The pose is based off this image from my local zoo, Brookfield Zoo featuring a mother Okapi and her calf:
Okapi calf is born at Brookfield Zoo - Chicago Tribune
Will this be in PMP? No. As I said earlier, Cenozoic Africa is on the list, but not Plio-Pleistocene Africa. It just doesn’t have as many unique animals as what I’m targeting. As well as India, I can’t find as many sources on the Plio-Pleistocene fauna of India.

Anyways, PMP ep3 pt5 is coming likely before the end of the year or maybe even Christmas. However, I have another, more iconic profile coming in a few days. What is it? Well... you'll see

Model and Skin by Lgcfm and Ulquiorra:
African Sivatherium (Lgcfm & Ulquiorra) | ZT2 Download Library Wiki | Fandom