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Batavipusa (Carnivora, Phocidae, Phocinae): a New Genus from the Eastern Shore of the North Atlantic Ocean (Miocene Seals of the Netherlands, Part II)

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Batavipusa (Carnivora, Phocidae, Phocinae): a New Genus from the Eastern Shore of the North Atlantic Ocean (Miocene Seals of the Netherlands, Part II) Irina A. Koretsky1& Noud Peters2 1 Howard University 2 Oertijdmuseum de Groene Poort Batavipusa (Carnivora, Phocidae, Phocinae): a new genus from the eastern shore of the North Atlantic Ocean (Miocene seals of the Netherlands, part II) Koretsky, I.A. & Peters, A.M.M., 2008 - Batavipusa (Carnivora, Phocidae, Phocinae): a new genus from the eastern shore of the North Atlantic Ocean (Miocene seals of the Netherlands, part II) - DEINSEA 12: 53-62 [ISSN 0923-9308] Published online 20 December 2008 New material of Phocinae from the Netherlands is studied in relation to fossil seals recovered from the Antwerp Basin of Belgium. This sheds new light on the past distribution of true seals along the eastern shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Batavipusa neerlandica, new genus and species is described here. The species originated on the coast of Western Europe (Late Miocene, early-middle Tortonian stage, between 8 and 11.5 Ma). During this period sea surface temperatures were moderate. Correspondence: Irina A. Koretsky, Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Howard University, 520 W St. NW, Washington D.C. 20059, USA; e-mail: [email protected]; Noud Peters, Markt 11, 5492 AA Sint-Oedenrode, the Netherlands; e-mail: [email protected] Key words: seals, Miocene, Pliocene, Paratethys, North Atlantic, new genus and species. INTRODUCTION ments also have been found, comparable in This study is the second in a series of papers age to the deepest layers in Liessel , i.e. about under the general title ‘Miocene Seals of the 8-11.5 Ma. (Figs. 1 and 2). Several seal spe- Netherlands’. In the first paper ‘A new spe- cies from the North Atlantic Eastern shore cies of Leptophoca (Carnivora, Phocidae, have been described and illustrated by Van Phocinae) from both sides of the North Beneden (1877). These closely related phoc- Atlantic Region’ we discussed in detail the ines, such as Phoca vitulinoides, Phocanella geology of the south-eastern part of the prov- minor and Phocanella pumila were found in ince of Noord-Brabant in the Netherlands the Pliocene of Belgium. As we stated before (Koretsky et al. in press). On the basis of new (Koretsky 2001; Koretsky & Ray 2008) an data from Munsterman of the Netherlands uncritical look at the published fossils attrib- Institute of Applied Geoscience TNO uted to the genus Phoca would lead to an (Munsterman 2007), we now can add that incorrect impression of the fossil history of the remains of the fossil true seals from the the genus. A perfect example of the above Hoogdonk locality near Liessel have a Late is Phoca vitulinoides VAN BENEDEN (1871). Miocene age, between about 5.5-11.5 Ma. In This species, originally based on Middle (?) the Mill-Langenboom locality at a depth of Pliocene (Scaldisian) fossils from the Antwerp 15-20 meters early-middle Tortonian sedi- Basin, is a medium-sized phocine apparently 53 DEINSEA 12, 2008 North Sea Rotterdam Langenboom GERMANY Liessel Figure 2 The outcrop in Langenboom (municipality of Mill) is an underwater sandpit called ‘de Kuilen’; sand is dredged from a depth up to maximum 20 meters, using a stationary BELGIUM suction dredger, pumped ashore through a floating pressure pipeline and dumped into large sand depots adjacent to the lake. [photo: Rene van Vliet] Figure 1 Map of The Netherlands, showing localities Langen- Beneden’s collection. boom (municipality of Mill) and Liessel in the province of Noord-Brabant. Another genus that we have focused on is Phocanella, which originally included two related to recent Phoca vitulina (see Koretsky species, P. pumila VAN BENEDEN , 1877, and P. & Ray 2008). When we described and selected minor VAN BENEDEN , 1877, both from Middle a lectotype for P. vitulinoides (see Koretsky (?) Pliocene deposits of Belgium. Van Beneden & Ray, 2008) we explained, that although this (1877) had connected both species with Pusa species is well known to researchers by name, hispida. Simpson (1945) placed them in the no one seems to have critically re-examined Phocinae and Ray (1977: table 1) consid- the original material. Usually the concept of ered them to be generalized phocines near Phoca vitulinoides seems to be that of a small Phoca. Koretsky & Ray (2008) concluded that Pusa-like seal, as illustrated by Van Beneden Phocanella minor is a synonym for Phocanella in his Atlas (1877, pl. 15). However, the bones pumila and that the species is closely related included in the first description of this species to Phoca largha. In the same paper another (Van Beneden 1871) do not support this con- species, Phocanella couffoni FRIANT , 1947, cept. Morphologically these bones are similar is interpreted as a nomen nudum. It had been to Phoca vitulina, but in size they are larger described on the basis of a very poorly pre- than Erignathus barbatus, and the illustrations served femur and mandible as Palmidophoca (Van Beneden 1871, pl. 18, figs. 1-5) show chrysar from France (Ginsburg & Janvier an atlas, astragalus and ulna of very large size 1999). also. On the basis of the above statement we have come to the conclusion that Phoca vituli- SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY noides includes the larger seal of Van Beneden (1871), but not the smaller seal that was later Family Phocidae GRAY , 1825 described and illustrated by Van Beneden subfamily Phocinae GILL , 1866 (1877: 72-74, pl. 15). The rest of Van Beneden’s cotype series of Batavipusa, new genus P. vitulinoides from the North Atlantic region requires a new name and we hope to continue Type species to work on this project in the future, carefully Batavipusa neerlandica, new species checking every individual bone from Van 54 KORETSKI & PETERS: a new Miocene seal genus Included species - triangular greater trochanter, that becomes The genus is monotypic. enlarged at its proximal end (except for Pagophilus, Halichoerus, Erignathus, Etymology Histriophoca, Leptophoca); From Batavia, Latin for Holland; pusa, - minimal width of diaphysis at proximal end Latin for little; neerlandica, referring to the of the bone (except for Monachopsis). Netherlands. In addition, this genus differs distinctly from other genera as follows: Diagnosis - from Pusa by: longer deltoid crest, relative to Short deltoid crest extends to half of humeral the absolute length of the bone; deeper coro- length; maximal width of deltoid crest located noid fossa; also by relatively short and wide in its proximal portion; lesser tubercle of neck of the femur. humerus located slightly distally to proximal - from Pagophilus by: proximally wider del- border of deltoid crest, oval in shape and devi- toid crest of the humerus; shorter deltoid crest ated from bone’s axis; head compressed crani- and lateral epicondyle; lateral epicondyle ocaudally; lateral epicondyle does not reach to twice the length of the medial epicondyle; the middle of diaphysis or to the distal end of dorsoventrally flattened head. By relatively deltoid crest. Proximal end of greater trochant- short and wide neck of the femur; shallow er of femur wider than distal end; trochanteric trochanteric fossa; relatively narrow situated fossa shallow and opened medioproximally; condyles. lesser trochanter small, located below distal - from Halichoerus by: deeper coronoid fossa; border of greater trochanter; head small, situ- short lateral epicondyle. By shallow tro ated on relatively wide, short neck; minimum chanteric fossa of the femur. width of diaphysis located in proximal part - from Erignathus by: enlargement of the of the bone; maximum intercondylar distance deltoid crest in its proximal end; well formed 16,2 % of bone’s length. lesser tubercle, separated from the head, lat- eral epicondyle longer than medial epi- Comparison condyle. By greater trochanter of the femur The genus Batavipusa differs from other much higher than the head; dorso-ventrally known seals by: flattened head. - overall smaller size (except for Monachopsis); - from Histriophoca by: relatively shorter - not dorsally averted deltoid crest of deltoid crest and lateral epicondyle of the the humerus (except for Histriophoca, humerus; maximal enlargement of deltoid Cryptophoca, Prophoca, Sarmatonectes, crest in its proximal end; head wider than Monachopsis); the trochlea; deeper musculospiral groove - lesser tubercle deviated from the bone’s axis and coronoid fossa. By greater trochanter of (except for Erignathus, Histriophoca, the femur higher than the head; shallow tro Monachopsis, Phocanella); chanteric fossa. - shallow musculospiral groove (except - from Praepusa by: shorter deltoid crest and for Erignathus, Histriophoca, Praepusa, lateral epicondyle. By relatively short and Sarmatonectes); wide neck of the femur; shallow trochanteric - proximal location of the lesser tubercle fossa. compared to the head (except for Pusa, - from Monachopsis by: smaller lesser tubercle Histriophoca, Monachopsis, Cryptophoca). of the humerus; deeper coronoid fossa; - presence of lesser trochanter of the femur shorter and wider deltoid crest and lateral epi- (except for Sarmatonectes) and long, well condyle; lesser tubercle located distally com- developed intertrochanteric crest (except for pared to the head. By deeper trochanteric Phocanella); fossa of the femur; relatively wider neck. 55 DEINSEA 12, 2008 Table 1 Measurements (mm) of left humerus (Holotype, - from Cryptophoca by: deeper, higher and MAB 3798) of Batavipusa neerlandica. wider coronoid fossa of the humerus, reach- ing the same level as lateral epicondyle; shal- character mm low coronoid fossa; shorter deltoid crest and lateral epicondyle. By
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