The Vallesian large Palaeotragus Gaudry, 1861 (Mammalia: Giraffidae) from Northern Greece

We herein re-discuss the systematics of Late Miocene representatives most common but poorly documented Eurasian giraffid genus Palaeotragus on occasion review and description new samples from Vallesian faunas Northern Greece. Our results detect five morphotypes, recognizing at least four species. The so called ‘small-sized palaeotrages’ are represented by type species P. rouenii Chinese microdon, whereas validity pavlowae Grebeniki (Ukraine) is doubted. ‘Large-sized mainly coelophrys (synonym expectans, borissiaki, hoffstetteri, quadricornis, probably moldavicus), a that thrived in peri- Black Sea territories during survived Turolian Irano-Anatolian domain, likely adopting more robust appearance. Large palaeotrages Pentalophos Ravin de la Pluie (Axios Valley, Greece) identidied as with certain confidence. berislavicus Berislav has intermediate morphometric features between it is, therefore, recognized valid latest Nikiti-1 (Chalkidiki peninsula) large palaeotrage shares many berislavicus, suggesting may have invaded Balkans end possibly there until middle Turolian. asiaticus Central Asia quite problematic species; appears closely related to equivalent cf. China both be linked older taxon.