Fossils of Star Wars-like mammal found in Spain

Fossils of a mammal that looks like something out of the Star Wars films have been found in Spain.

Researchers discovered the fossils at the La Retama fossil site within the Loranca Basin in the Iberian Peninsula. 

The first palaeomerycids – which all have three horns - were originally described on the basis of fossils from Goergensmund, Germany.

Since then, others have been founds across Europe, with a diverse range found around the Iberian Peninsula and stretching to China.

To work out how the new find fits into the group, Israel M. Sánchez and his team paid particular attention to the creature's T-shaped horn, as well as cranial fragments and teeth. (MailOnline)

The giraffe-like animal has three horns on top of its head. One is much bigger than the rest.

The animal has been given the scientific name Xenokeryx amidalae, meaning strange horn of Amidala. (CBBC Newsround)

It is part of an extinct family of animals related to the giraffe living up to 16 million years ago and has been named in honour of Star Wars character Padme Amidala due to the similarity of its horn to the character's headwear in The Phantom Menace.  

Researchers paid particular attention to the creature's T-shaped horn, as well as cranial fragments and teeth. Cranial remains of Xenokeryx amidalae, including the strange T-shaped horn (A and C) are shown above (MailOnline)

Xenokeryx amidalae lived between 16 and 11.5 million years ago, during the middle Miocene, according to researchers from Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC in Madrid.

It is part of a group of animals called palaeomerycid - strange three horned Eurasian ruminants that have a specialised stomach designed to ferment food.(MailOnline) 

Queen Amidala from Star Wars

The giraffe-like animal has three horns on top of its head. One is much bigger than the rest.

The animal has been given the scientific name Xenokeryx amidalae, meaning strange horn of Amidala.(CBBC Newsround)