The most ancient megacerine deer from the Late Miocene of Siberia and its implications to the evolution of the group

The oldest representative of giant deer (tribe Megacerini, family Cervidae) is found in the Late Miocene of the Taralyk-Cher locality in Tuva (Russia). The new findings enrich the history of the group and demonstrate the Central Asian origin of its Asiatic lineage Praesinomegaceros–Sinomegaceros.