Monstrous Sheep
Pelorovis antiquus
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Chordata
Mammalia
Artiodactyla
Pecora
Bovidae
Pelorovis
Pelorovis antiquus
The Horned Giant of the African Pleistocene — Pelorovis antiquus, also known as the Giant African Buffalo, was one of the largest and most striking bovids to ever roam the continent. Its enormous crescent-shaped horns, spanning up to 3 meters, made it an icon of Africa’s prehistoric megafauna.
Description
Giant Buffalo (Pelorovis antiquus) — This extinct bovid lived across sub-Saharan Africa during the Late Pleistocene to early Holocene (approximately 700,000–10,000 years ago). Closely related to modern African buffaloes (Syncerus spp.), Pelorovis was far larger and adapted to open savannas and grasslands, grazing alongside other megafauna such as elephants, hippopotamuses, and giant hartebeests.
Its most distinctive feature was its immense horns, which curved outward and upward in a broad crescent — each horn sometimes exceeding 1.5 meters in length. These horns likely played roles in defense and display, as well as species recognition. Despite its intimidating size, Pelorovis was a grazer, subsisting on tough, fibrous vegetation.
Quick Facts
Max Mass
Shoulder Height
Standing Height
Length
Diet
Trophic Level
1200
2
3
3.8
kg
m
m
m
Mixed Feeder
Herbivores – Grazers
Hunt History
Early humans in Africa coexisted with Pelorovis antiquus for tens of thousands of years. Archaeological evidence suggests they occasionally hunted or scavenged these massive animals, likely targeting the old, young, or injured individuals. Its image appears in early African rock art, suggesting reverence or fear.
Earliest Archaeological Evidence of Human Predation:
Olorgesailie Basin, Kenya (~200,000 years ago): Acheulean tools and Pelorovis remains found together, suggesting opportunistic butchery.
Klasies River Mouth, South Africa (~120,000 years ago): Fossils of Pelorovis with cut marks near hearths of early Homo sapiens.
Apollo 11 Cave, Namibia (~25,000 years ago): Rock art depicting long-horned buffalo, possibly Pelorovis, indicating continued human memory of the species.
Time & Range
Extinction Status
Globally Extinct
Extinction Date
Temporal Range
Region
12000
BP
Late Pleistocene
Africa
Wiki Link
Fat Analysis
Fatness Profile:
Medium
Fat %
6
Est. Renderable Fat
72
kg
Targeted Organs
Hump/backfat, marrow, mesenteric fat
Adipose Depots
Hump/backfat, mesenteric, perirenal; marrow
Preferred Cuts
Hump/backfat & marrow
Hunt Difficulty (x/5)
4