Dama clactoniana

Dama clactoniana is an extinct species of fallow deer. It lived during the Middle Pleistocene. It is widely agreed to be the Dama species most closely related and likely ancestral to the two living species of fallow deer and like them has palmate antlers.

Description

While the size of the species is variable, recovered specimens of this species tend to be larger than both living fallow deer species on average. Its fourth lower premolar is not molarized. Unlike species of Dama from more primitive lineages or earlier intervals of time, and like living fallow deer, D. clactoniana's antlers are palmate, with the palmation being narrower than what is seen in antlers of living European fallow deer.

Distribution

Specimens are known from Western Europe, including Italy, Britain, France and Spain.

Palaeoecology

Dental wear analysis of remains from the site of Fontana Aruccio in Italy suggests that D. clactoniana was primarily a browser.

Relationship with humans

Evidence has been found for the butchery Dama clactoniana during the Clactonian period in Britain by Homo heidelbergensis.