Climacoceras (from Greek, "
Ladder Horns") was a genus of early
Miocene artiodactyl ungulates of
Africa and Europe. The members of
Climacoceras were related to
giraffes, as the
genus was once placed within
Giraffidae. Fossils of the two best known species of
Climacoceras,
C. africanus and
C. gentryi have been both found in
Kenya. The animals measured about 1.5 m in height and had large
ossicones resembling
antlers.
C. africanus had ossicones resembling tall thorn-covered plant stems, while the ossicones of
C. gentryi resembled thorny
crescents.