Restudy of <i>Pachygazella grangeri</i> (Bovidae, Mammalia) from the Late Miocene–Early Pliocene of northern China with the discussion on its taxonomic and phylogenetic status

Hitherto, the species has been placed in Caprini by most authors, and proposed to have a closer relationship with extant <i>Naemorhedus</i> and <i>Capricornis</i>. However, the lack of previous detailed morphological comparison and phylogenetic analysis hinders understanding of the taxonomic status and evolutionary relationship of the species with the other bovids.

Here, we restudied the type specimen of the species with virtual 3D modelling, detailed comparison and phylogenetic analysis with other bovids. The result shows that it features a series of similar characters and is phylogenetically positioned as the sister group with the extant <i>Naemorhedus</i> and <i>Capricornis</i>, probably representing an ancestral lineage of these genera. The result supports the hypothesis proposed by the previous authors.