Prehistoric Giraffidae

Sivatherium ("Shiva's beast", from Shiva and therium, Latinized form of Ancient Greek θηρίον - thēríon) is an extinct genus of giraffid that ranged throughout Africa and Eurasia. The species Sivatherium giganteum is, by weight, one of the largest giraffids known, and also one of the largest ruminants of all time. Sivatherium originated during the Late Miocene (around 7 million years ago) in Africa and survived through to the late Early Pleistocene (Calabrian) until around 1 million years ago.

Samotherium ("beast of Samos") is an extinct genus belonging to the family Giraffidae from the Miocene and Pliocene of Eurasia and Africa. Samotherium had two ossicones on its head and possessed long legs. The ossicones usually pointed upward, and were curved backwards, with males having larger, more curved ossicones, though in the Chinese species, S. sinense, the straight ossicones point laterally, not upwards. The genus is closely related to Shansitherium. Fossil evidence suggests that Samotherium had a rounded muzzle, which would suggest a grazing lifestyle and a habitat composed of grassla

Palaeotragus ("ancient goat") is a genus of very large, primitive, okapi-like giraffids from the Miocene to Early Pleistocene of Africa and Eurasia.

Giraffokeryx is an extinct genus of medium-sized giraffids known from the Miocene of the Indian subcontinent and Eurasia. It is distinguished from other giraffids by the four ossicones on its head; one pair in front of the eyes on the anterior aspect of the frontal bone and the other behind the eyes in the frontoparietal region overhanging the temporal fossae. It has a brachydont dentition like in other giraffids and its legs and feet are of medium length. Giraffokeryx is considered monotypic by most authors, in the form of G. punjabiensis, but other species have been assigned to the genus: G

Bramatherium (Brahma’s beast) is an extinct genus of giraffids that ranged from India to Turkey in Asia. It is closely related to the larger Sivatherium.

Bohlinia is an extinct genus of the artiodactyl family Giraffidae that lived during the Late Miocene in Eurasia and Africa. It was first named by the paleontologist Dr. W. Matthew in 1929, and contains two species, B. adoumi and B. attica. The species B. attica has been reclassified several times since its description, being first named Camelopardalis attica and then reclassified as Giraffa attica.

Schansitherium ("beast of Shanxi") is an extinct genus of superficially moose-like or antelope-like giraffids from the late Miocene epoch of Shanxi Province, China. They are closely related to the genus Samotherium.

Helladotherium is an extinct genus of sivatheriine giraffid which inhabited Europe, Africa, and Asia during the Miocene. The most complete skeleton is that of a female, based on a comparison with an intact female Sivatherium giganteum skull.

Honanotherium is a genus of extinct giraffid from the late Miocene of Henan Province, China, and East Azerbaijan Province, northwestern Iran. It was closely related to Bohlinia and was once thought to be ancestral to the modern giraffe (genus Giraffa). The living animal would have resembled a modern giraffe, but was somewhat shorter, with more massive ossicones.

Decennatherium is an extinct genus of giraffids. The genus contains a total of four species with two species from Spain, D. pachecoi and D. rex, and two species respectively from Iran and Pakistan, D. crusafonti and D. asiaticum. In 2025, Solounias and Danowitz assigned the YGSP 47357, 6392, and 47192, previously referred to Lyrakeryx, to Decennatherium.

Birgerbohlinia is an extinct genus of Giraffidae. It was first named by Crusafont Pairó and Villalta in 1951 and was found in Crevillente-2 (Alicante, Spain).

Mitilanotherium is an extinct genus of giraffes from the Pliocene and Pleistocene of Europe.

Injanatherium is an extinct genus of giraffids from the Miocene of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Species of Injanatherium had at least two pairs of long, wing-like ossicones that emanated laterally above the orbits.

Vishnutherium (Vishnu's beast) is an extinct genus of the Giraffidae from the Miocene epoch. The genus contains two species, V. iravadicum and V. priscillum, discovered from Myanmar, Iran, Pakistan and possibly India.

Progiraffa is an extinct genus of giraffid artiodactyls from the Early Miocene of Pakistan. It was first named by Guy Ellcock Pilgrim in 1908. It resembled a horse more than a giraffe. It lived in an open habitat.

Sivatheriinae is an extinct subfamily of giraffids characterized by their robust size, short limbs, and the presence of large complicated ossicones in males. These animals lived in Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe from the late Miocene and early Pleistocene.

Csakvarotherium is an extinct genus of mammals in the Giraffidae family from the Upper Miocene. The genus is known from a single species, Csakvarotherium hungaricum. The genus is named after Csákvár, a town in Hungary.

Palaeogiraffa is an extinct genus of giraffidae. It was first named by Bonis and Bouvrain in 2003, and contains one species, P. major. It has only been found at a fossil site in Yulafli, in Turkey.

Macedonitherium is an extinct genus of giraffids. It was first named by Sickenberg in 1967.

Propalaeomeryx is an extinct genus of giraffidae. It was first named by Lydekker in 1883.

Canthumeryx is an extinct genus of primitive giraffid artiodactyls. It is the close ancestor of giraffes.