Mammalian Faunal Change During the Early Eocene Climatic

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Mammalian Faunal Change During the Early Eocene Climatic MAMMALIAN FAUNAL CHANGE DURING THE EARLY EOCENE CLIMATIC OPTIMUM (WASATCHIAN AND BRIDGERIAN) AT RAVEN RIDGE IN THE NORTHEASTERN UINTA BASIN, COLORADO AND UTAH by ALEXANDER R. DUTCHAK B.Sc., University of Alberta, 2002 M.Sc., University of Alberta, 2005 A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Colorado in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Geological Sciences 2010 This thesis entitled: Mammalian faunal change during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (Wasatchian and Bridgerian) at Raven Ridge in the northeastern Uinta Basin, Colorado and Utah written by Alexander R. Dutchak has been approved for the Department of Geological Sciences ______________________________ Jaelyn J. Eberle (Supervisor) ______________________________ John Humphrey ______________________________ Mary Kraus ______________________________ Tom Marchitto ______________________________ Richard Stucky Date: ________________________ The final copy of this thesis has been examined by the signatories, and we find that both the content and the form meet acceptable presentation standards of scholarly work in the above mentioned discipline. ABSTRACT Dutchak, Alexander R. (Ph.D., Geological Sciences, Department of Geological Sciences) Mammalian faunal change during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (Wasatchian and Bridgerian) at Raven Ridge in the northeastern Uinta Basin, Colorado and Utah Thesis directed by Assistant Professor Jaelyn J. Eberle This project investigated patterns of mammalian faunal change at Raven Ridge, which straddles the Colorado-Utah border on the northeastern edge of the Uinta Basin and consists of intertonguing units of the fluvial Colton and lacustrine Green River Formations. Fossil vertebrate localities comprising >9,000 fossil mammal specimens from 62 genera in 34 families were identified and described. Included in this fauna are the index taxa Smilodectes, Omomys, Heptodon, and Lambdotherium, among others, which were used to biostratigraphically constrain the Raven Ridge strata as mid- Wasatchian (Wa3-5, ~53.5mya) through mid-Bridgerian (Br1b, ~48.5mya) in age. This time interval coincides with the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO), an extended interval of globally warm temperatures that is coincident with a large negative δ13C excursion. The onset, peak, and decline of the EECO at Raven Ridge were constrained by analyzing 197 sediment samples, collected from measured sections at Raven Ridge, for Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content and then chemostratigraphically correlating this data with established marine isotope curves. The Raven Ridge TOC data show a large negative carbon excursion that starts during the Wa6 biochron, peaks during the Wa7 biochron, and is followed by a positive excursion near the Wa-Br boundary. Results of the chemostratigraphic correlation are consistent with onset of the EECO at Raven Ridge iii occurring during the Wa6 biochron, the peak of the warm interval near the Wa-Br boundary, and the decline of the EECO during the Br1a and Br1b biochrons. Generic diversity of the mammalian fauna from Raven Ridge is relatively stable during the onset and peak of the EECO, with a sharp decline during the Br1b biochron. The relative abundance of arboreal taxa increases significantly during the EECO interval, which is consistent with the appearance of dense tropical forests in central North America during this period. This change in habitat structure is marked by an increase in abundance of omomyids primates and a decrease in abundance of terrestrial taxa such as Diacodexis and hyopsodontid ‘condylarths’. The results of this study show equivocal support of the hypothesized direct link between higher global temperatures and increased mammalian generic diversity during the Wa-Br transition, but are consistent with ecological restructuring associated with climate-driven habitat change. iv For all those who came before me, upon whose broad shoulders I stand, and for my wife, Melissa, with whom I look forward to sharing many new adventures. ACKNOWLDGMENTS Three people need to be mentioned as the primary influences on my career in paleontology. Firstly, my parents, whose unwavering support in all aspects of my life is a constant source of strength. Words are insufficient to adequately express my thanks for everything they have done for me. Secondly, my wife, Melissa, who bravely joined me on our Colorado adventure while leaving behind family, friends, and an established career. There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t realize how lucky I am to have such an amazing woman by my side. I owe my advisor, Jaelyn Eberle, a debt of gratitude for providing me with the opportunity pursue my Ph.D. at the University of Colorado. Her thoughtful guidance and expertise in the field of mammalian paleontology have been excellent resources throughout the past five years. Similarly, my committee members have all gone out of their way to share their experience and provide guidance and feedback whenever called upon. In particular, John Humphrey provided his instruments, time, and expertise during some very long days and nights on the mass spec in Golden, and Richard Stucky shared his considerable expertise regarding mammalian faunal change during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum while also showing me around the Wind River Basin. The Wind River camps with the Denver Museum crew were an immense amount of fun and I enjoyed getting to know the dozens of DMNS volunteers, Paul Rosen and the many Teen Science Scholars, and other specialists in the field including Brenda Chinnery-Allgeier, Deb Anderson, Amy Chew, and Henry Fricke. I owe apologies to my field assistants (Ben Burger, Laura Wilson, Sean Bryan, Ryan Nell, and Will Gelnaw) who helped measure section and collect fossils at Raven vi Ridge. Many of the days were obscenely hot and we were often set upon by countless insects. Hopefully the gorgeous scenery and random camp visits by pronghorn, elk, coyotes, golden eagles, and sheep (yes, woolly sheep are wandering about in northeastern Utah) helped distract them from the monotony of the Jacob staff. I hope they will remember the incredible views of storms on Dinosaur National Monument and the excellent food provided by the Bedrock Depot in Dinosaur, CO, and forget about my ill- fated attempts to cook for them. I was also lucky enough to spend time in the field with Gregg Gunnell and Bill Bartels at some of their South Pass, Wyoming sites. I thank them for sharing their time and expertise with me, and I thank Andrea Bair for introducing us in the first place. The laser ablation portion of this project would not have been possible without the generous assistance of Thure Cerling at the University of Utah and Ben Passey of Johns Hopkins University. Lindsay Mackenzie was kind enough to take time out from her studies at the University of Montana to drive down to Salt Lake City and act as my lab assistant for a week, and Don DeBlieux (and Beasie) housed us for the week. Naomi Levin and Ashley Ballantyne were kind enough to allow me to run some laser ablation test samples while they were collaborating on a separate project and their generosity in this aspect is greatly appreciated. Mimi Katz shared her marine geochemical dataset for the chemostratigraphic portion of this study, and for that she is thanked profusely. Dena Smith provided a great deal of statistical expertise and insight that was invaluable near the end of my degree while writing up the faunal analysis chapter of this project. Her energy and enthusiasm for my project is greatly appreciated. vii Toni Culver provided unflinching support for both me and my project from the first day I arrived right through to the end. Her willingness to go out of her way to help me in any way possible is gratefully acknowledged. Mary Dawson and Amy Henrici of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History were extremely helpful in providing me with their specimen data for the Powder Wash locality. My educational experience at CU was greatly enhanced by several outstanding instructors who helped me become a confident and competent geologist. These professors include Lang Farmer, Alexis Templeton, Mary Kraus, Tom Marchitto, Joe Smyth, and Karl Mueller. I also owe thanks to David Armstrong, Ned Friedman, and particularly Bert Covert for their time and efforts in EBIO and Anthropology classes. My graduate school experience was not completed in a vacuum. My fellow graduate students were sources of staunch support and valuable critiques throughout my time at CU. Ben Burger taught me a great deal about mammalian paleontology, both in the field and in the lab. He is a trusted friend and someone with whom I look forward to associating for many years to come. Laura Wilson has been a pillar of strength and an outstanding officemate, field assistant, and friend. I will miss our discussions regarding life, the universe, paleontology, and everything. I also thank Erin Leckey, Ian Sweeney, Sean Bryan, Walter Szeliga, Karen Lloyd, Nate Bradley, Lyndsay Ball, Wendy Schultz, and John Hankla for all that they, and in many cases their families, did for me during my stay. Financial support for this project was provided by the William H. Burt Fund from the CU Museum, a Shell Petroleum student research grant, The Evolving Earth Foundation, a Beverly Sears grant from the CU Graduate School, travel grants from the viii Department of Geological Sciences, the United Government of Graduate Students, and the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, and the Graham L. Anderson Postgraduate Scholarship from Shawnigan Lake School. Finally, this project would not have been possible without the efforts of Peter Robinson and Kentaro Doi. Dr. Robinson identified and catalogued over half of the Raven Ridge specimens, and was the driving force behind the UCM’s collecting efforts in the Raven Ridge area. Peter also provided an immense amount of insight into previous work at Raven Ridge and was always willing to help when I came around with questions.
Recommended publications
  • The World at the Time of Messel: Conference Volume
    T. Lehmann & S.F.K. Schaal (eds) The World at the Time of Messel - Conference Volume Time at the The World The World at the Time of Messel: Puzzles in Palaeobiology, Palaeoenvironment and the History of Early Primates 22nd International Senckenberg Conference 2011 Frankfurt am Main, 15th - 19th November 2011 ISBN 978-3-929907-86-5 Conference Volume SENCKENBERG Gesellschaft für Naturforschung THOMAS LEHMANN & STEPHAN F.K. SCHAAL (eds) The World at the Time of Messel: Puzzles in Palaeobiology, Palaeoenvironment, and the History of Early Primates 22nd International Senckenberg Conference Frankfurt am Main, 15th – 19th November 2011 Conference Volume Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung IMPRINT The World at the Time of Messel: Puzzles in Palaeobiology, Palaeoenvironment, and the History of Early Primates 22nd International Senckenberg Conference 15th – 19th November 2011, Frankfurt am Main, Germany Conference Volume Publisher PROF. DR. DR. H.C. VOLKER MOSBRUGGER Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany Editors DR. THOMAS LEHMANN & DR. STEPHAN F.K. SCHAAL Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany [email protected]; [email protected] Language editors JOSEPH E.B. HOGAN & DR. KRISTER T. SMITH Layout JULIANE EBERHARDT & ANIKA VOGEL Cover Illustration EVELINE JUNQUEIRA Print Rhein-Main-Geschäftsdrucke, Hofheim-Wallau, Germany Citation LEHMANN, T. & SCHAAL, S.F.K. (eds) (2011). The World at the Time of Messel: Puzzles in Palaeobiology, Palaeoenvironment, and the History of Early Primates. 22nd International Senckenberg Conference. 15th – 19th November 2011, Frankfurt am Main. Conference Volume. Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Frankfurt am Main. pp. 203.
    [Show full text]
  • Download File
    Chronology and Faunal Evolution of the Middle Eocene Bridgerian North American Land Mammal “Age”: Achieving High Precision Geochronology Kaori Tsukui Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 2016 © 2015 Kaori Tsukui All rights reserved ABSTRACT Chronology and Faunal Evolution of the Middle Eocene Bridgerian North American Land Mammal “Age”: Achieving High Precision Geochronology Kaori Tsukui The age of the Bridgerian/Uintan boundary has been regarded as one of the most important outstanding problems in North American Land Mammal “Age” (NALMA) biochronology. The Bridger Basin in southwestern Wyoming preserves one of the best stratigraphic records of the faunal boundary as well as the preceding Bridgerian NALMA. In this dissertation, I first developed a chronological framework for the Eocene Bridger Formation including the age of the boundary, based on a combination of magnetostratigraphy and U-Pb ID-TIMS geochronology. Within the temporal framework, I attempted at making a regional correlation of the boundary-bearing strata within the western U.S., and also assessed the body size evolution of three representative taxa from the Bridger Basin within the context of Early Eocene Climatic Optimum. Integrating radioisotopic, magnetostratigraphic and astronomical data from the early to middle Eocene, I reviewed various calibration models for the Geological Time Scale and intercalibration of 40Ar/39Ar data among laboratories and against U-Pb data, toward the community goal of achieving a high precision and well integrated Geological Time Scale. In Chapter 2, I present a magnetostratigraphy and U-Pb zircon geochronology of the Bridger Formation from the Bridger Basin in southwestern Wyoming.
    [Show full text]
  • Unit-V Evolution of Horse
    UNIT-V EVOLUTION OF HORSE Horses (Equus) are odd-toed hooped mammals belong- ing to the order Perissodactyla. Horse evolution is a straight line evolution and is a suitable example for orthogenesis. It started from Eocene period. The entire evolutionary sequence of horse history is recorded in North America. " Place of Origin The place of origin of horse is North America. From here, horses migrated to Europe and Asia. By the end of Pleis- tocene period, horses became extinct in the motherland (N. America). The horses now living in N. America are the de- scendants of migrants from other continents. Time of Origin The horse evolution started some 58 million years ago, m the beginning of Eocene period of Coenozoic era. The modem horse Equus originated in Pleistocene period about 2 million years ago. Evolutionary Trends The fossils of horses that lived in different periods, show that the body parts exhibited progressive changes towards a particular direction. These directional changes are called evo- lutionary trends. The evolutionary trends of horse evolution are summarized below: 1. Increase in size. 2. Increase in the length of limbs. 3. Increase in the length of the neck. 4. Increase in the length of preorbital region (face). 5. Increase in the length and size of III digit. 6. Increase in the size and complexity of brain. 7. Molarization of premolars. Olfactory bulb Hyracotherium Mesohippus Equus Fig.: Evolution of brain in horse. 8. Development of high crowns in premolars and molars. 9. Change of plantigrade gait to unguligrade gait. 10. Formation of diastema. 11. Disappearance of lateral digits.
    [Show full text]
  • Paleontological Resources at Grand Teton National Park, Northwestern Wyoming Vincent L
    University of Wyoming National Park Service Research Center Annual Report Volume 22 22nd Annual Report, 1998 Article 7 1-1-1998 Paleontological Resources at Grand Teton National Park, Northwestern Wyoming Vincent L. Santucci National Park Service William P. Wall Georgia College and State University Follow this and additional works at: http://repository.uwyo.edu/uwnpsrc_reports Recommended Citation Santucci, Vincent L. and Wall, William P. (1998) "Paleontological Resources at Grand Teton National Park, Northwestern Wyoming," University of Wyoming National Park Service Research Center Annual Report: Vol. 22 , Article 7. Available at: http://repository.uwyo.edu/uwnpsrc_reports/vol22/iss1/7 This Grand Teton National Park Report is brought to you for free and open access by Wyoming Scholars Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Wyoming National Park Service Research Center Annual Report by an authorized editor of Wyoming Scholars Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Santucci and Wall: Paleontological Resources at Grand Teton National Park, Northwest PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES AT GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, NORTHWESTERN WYOMING + VINCENT L. SANTUCCI+ NATIONAL PARK SERVICE KEMMERER + WY WILLIAM P. WALL+ DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY GEORGIA COLLEGE AND STATE UNIVERSITY MILLEDGEVILLE + GA + ABSTRACT landscape, and though the last great ice masses melted 15 ,000 years ago, some re-established small Paleontological resources occur throughout glaciers still exist. the formations exposed in Grand Teton National Park. A comprehensive paleontological survey has This report provides a preliminary not been attempted previously at Grand Teton assessment of paleontological resources identified at National Park. Preliminary paleontologic resource Grand Teton National Park. data is given in this report in order to establish baseline data.
    [Show full text]
  • Perissodactyla: Tapirus) Hints at Subtle Variations in Locomotor Ecology
    JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY 277:1469–1485 (2016) A Three-Dimensional Morphometric Analysis of Upper Forelimb Morphology in the Enigmatic Tapir (Perissodactyla: Tapirus) Hints at Subtle Variations in Locomotor Ecology Jamie A. MacLaren1* and Sandra Nauwelaerts1,2 1Department of Biology, Universiteit Antwerpen, Building D, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein, Wilrijk, Antwerp 2610, Belgium 2Centre for Research and Conservation, Koninklijke Maatschappij Voor Dierkunde (KMDA), Koningin Astridplein 26, Antwerp 2018, Belgium ABSTRACT Forelimb morphology is an indicator for order Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates). Modern terrestrial locomotor ecology. The limb morphology of the tapirs are widely accepted to belong to a single enigmatic tapir (Perissodactyla: Tapirus) has often been genus (Tapirus), containing four extant species compared to that of basal perissodactyls, despite the lack (Hulbert, 1973; Ruiz-Garcıa et al., 1985) and sev- of quantitative studies comparing forelimb variation in eral regional subspecies (Padilla and Dowler, 1965; modern tapirs. Here, we present a quantitative assess- ment of tapir upper forelimb osteology using three- Wilson and Reeder, 2005): the Baird’s tapir (T. dimensional geometric morphometrics to test whether bairdii), lowland tapir (T. terrestris), mountain the four modern tapir species are monomorphic in their tapir (T. pinchaque), and the Malayan tapir (T. forelimb skeleton. The shape of the upper forelimb bones indicus). Extant tapirs primarily inhabit tropical across four species (T. indicus; T. bairdii; T. terrestris; T. rainforest, with some populations also occupying pinchaque) was investigated. Bones were laser scanned wet grassland and chaparral biomes (Padilla and to capture surface morphology and 3D landmark analysis Dowler, 1965; Padilla et al., 1996). was used to quantify shape.
    [Show full text]
  • Skeleton of the Oligocene (30 Million-Year-Old) Horse, Mesohippus, Is a Featured Exhibit at the New North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora
    Skeleton of the Oligocene (30 million-year-old) horse, Mesohippus, is a featured exhibit at the new North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora By John W. Hoganson Developers of the recently opened North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame contacted me about having a fossil exhibit in the new Hall in Medora. Of course, what would be more appropriate than an exhibit interpreting the evolution of the horse? Most people are under the false impression that horses did not inhabit North America until they were introduced by the Spaniards during the early days of conquest. But horses are indigenous to North America. Fossil remains of the earliest horse, referred to as Hyracotherium (or sometimes Eohippus), have been recovered from early Eocene (about 50 million years old) rocks in North America. In fact, they were some of the most abundant mammals that lived during that time. The fossil record of horses in North Dakota extends back to the Oligocene, about 30 million years ago, when the diminutive horse, Mesohippus roamed western North Dakota. Mesohippus was tiny, about the size of a sheep. The adults were only about 20 inches tall at the shoulder. They also had three toes on each foot compared to the modern horse Equus that has one. Mesohippus was also probably more of a browsing herbivore compared to the modern grazing horse. We have found many Mesohippus fossils in North Dakota but no complete skeletons. Consequently, the Mesohippus skeleton on exhibit at the Cowboy Hall of Fame is an exact cast replica. We have also found the remains of 50,000-year-old horses in North Dakota indicating that horses lived here during the last Ice Age.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 KECK PROPOSAL: Eocene Tectonic Evolution of the Teton-Absaroka
    KECK PROPOSAL: Eocene Tectonic Evolution of the Teton-Absaroka Ranges, Wyoming (Year 2) Project Leaders: John Craddock (Macalester College; [email protected]) and Dave Malone (Illinois State University; [email protected]) Host Institution: Macalester College, St. Paul, MN Project Dates: ~July 15-August 14, 2011 Student Prerequisites: Structural Geology, Sedimentology. Preamble: This project is an expansion of a 2010 Keck project that was funded at a reduced level (Craddock, 3 students); Malone and 4 students participated with separate funding. We completed or are currently working on three 2010 projects: 1. Structure, geochemistry and geochronology (U-Pb zircon) of carbonate pseudotachylite injection, White Mtn. (J. Geary, Macalester; note that this was not part of last year’s proposal but a new discovery in 2010 caused us to redirect our efforts), 2. Calcite twinning strains within the S. Fork detachment allochthon, northwest, WY (K. Kravitz, Smith; note because of a heavy snow pack in the Tetons this past summer, we chose a different structure to study), and 3. Provenance of heavy minerals and detrital zircon geochronology, Eocene Absaroka volcanics, northwest, WY (R. McGaughey, Carleton). We did not sample the footwall folds proposed in the previous proposal (under snow) and will focus on this project and mapping efforts of White Mountain and the 40 x 10 km S. Fork detachment area near Cody, WY, in part depending on the results (calcite strains, detrital zircons) of the 2010-11 effort. All seven students are working on the detrital zircon geochronology project, and two abstracts are accepted at the 2011 Denver GSA meeting. Overview: This proposal requests funding for 2 faculty to engage 6 students researching a variety of outstanding problems in the tectonic evolution of the Sevier-Laramide orogens as exposed in the Teton and Absaroka ranges in northwest Wyoming.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 17. Quartzite Gravel Northwest Wyoming
    Chapter 17 Quartzite Gravel of Northwest Wyoming The quartzites of southwest Montana and adjacent Idaho extend eastward into Wyoming1 in a semi-continuous belt, as shown on Figure 16.1 of the previous chapter. This chapter will describe those deposits. Quartzite Gravel Lag John Hergenrather and I have found scattered surficial quartzites from near Interstate 15 in northeastern Idaho, just south of Lima, Montana, eastward to the northern Teton Mountains and over a four-wheel drive pass between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. These quartzites seem to have mostly formed a thin layer or lag deposit on the surface or were reworked by local mountain glaciation. This lag rep- resents the red hashed area in Figure 16.1. Quartzites on Top of the Northern Teton Mountains Probably the most fascinating quartz- ite location is on top of the northern Teton Mountains! Brent Carter and I took a Figure 17.1. Slightly dipping limestone at the top three day round trip hike to the top of Red of Red Mountain. Mountain in the northern Teton Moun- tains, 10,177 feet (3,102 m) msl!2,3 Red Mountain and Mount Moran (12,605 feet, 3,842 m msl) represent remnants of a flat-topped planation surface.2 Red Mountain is composed of slightly tilted limestones (Figure 17.1), while Mount Moran is composed of granite or gneiss with a 50-foot (15 m) thick cap of Flathead Sandstone on top (see Figure 33.7). The quartzites on top of Red Mountain are mainly a thin lag mixed with angular lime- stone cobbles and boulders (Figure 17.2).
    [Show full text]
  • 6-3 Korth 2007A
    Paludicola 6(3):111-117 October 2007 © by the Rochester Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology MAMMALS FROM THE BLUE ASH LOCAL FAUNA (LATE OLIGOCENE), SOUTH DAKOTA, MARSUPIALIA AND LAGOMORPHA William W. Korth Rochester Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology, 265 Carling Road, Rochester, New York 14610 ABSTRACT Two marsupials (Herpetotherium fugax and Herpetotherium sp.) and three lagomorphs (Palaeolagus subhypsodus n. sp., Palaeolagus sp. cf. P. philoi, and Palaeolagus sp.) are identified from the Blue Ash local fauna of South Dakota. Of the species identified here, H. fugax is otherwise known from the Orellan to early Arikareean, Herpetotherium sp. is morphologically closest to the middle to late Arikareean H. youngi but is smaller in size, Palaeolagus subhypsodus is intermediate between the Whitneyan P. burkei and the Arikareean P. hypsodus, and the other lagomorphs are closest to Arikareean species morphologically. The age of the fauna is still not definite based on these species but it is suggested that it is slightly earlier than previously described Arikareean faunas. INTRODUCTION increases the number of formally described taxa from the fauna that can potentially help in the determination To date, only rodent species have been formally of the biochronologic age of the fauna. recognized from the Blue Ash local fauna (Martin, Dental nomenclature for marsupials is from 1974; Korth, 2007, in press; Emry and Korth, in press). Crochet (1980); that for lagomorphs is from White Earlier preliminary faunal lists presented by Martin (1987) for P2 and p3, and Dawson (1958) for the (1974) and Simpson (1985) included all of the molariform cheek teeth. Capital letters (e.g., M1) mammalian species present.
    [Show full text]
  • Taxonomy and Affinities of African Cenozoic Metatherians
    Spanish Journal of Palaeontology 36 (2), 2021 https://doi.org/10.7203/sjp.36.2.20974 Sociedad Española de Paleontología ISSN 2255-0550 / eISSN 2660-9568 OPEN ACCESS RESEARCH PAPER Taxonomy and affi nities of african cenozoic metatherians Taxonomía y afi nidades de los metaterios cenozoicos africanos Vicente D. CRESPO & Francisco J. GOIN Abstract: The record of extinct African metatherians (Mammalia, Theria) is scanty, restricted Received: 20 January 2021 in time (Eocene–Miocene), and its taxonomy is still subject of debate. A review of all African Accepted: 24 May 2021 metatherians, or alleged metatherians, known up to now, led us to the recognition of only Published online: XXX three taxa referable to this group: (1) Kasserinotherium tunisiense (Peradectoidea?), from the early Eocene of Tunisia; (2) Peratherium africanum (Herpetotheriidae), from the early Oligocene of Egypt and Oman, and (3) an indeterminate Herpetotheriidae? from the early Corresponding author: Miocene of Uganda. Herpetotheriids probably reached Afro-Arabia from Europe in one Vicente D. Crespo or more dispersal waves since the early Oligocene. Kasserinotherium, on the contrary, [email protected] suggests an earlier (Paleocene) arrival from South America, judging from its alleged affi nities with South American and Australian taxa. Such a migration event (probably, Keywords: through a fi lter corridor such as the Rio Grande Rise-Walvis Ridge system in the South Mammalia Atlantic) may also explain the enigmatic presence of polydolopimorphian metatherians in Metatheria the Cenozoic of central Anatolia (Turkey). A more radical hypothesis is that all European (Eurasian?) Marsupialiformes have an ultimate origin in South America, from where they Africa dispersed via Africa by the Paleocene–earliest Eocene.
    [Show full text]
  • Surface Geology Wind/Bighorn River Basin Wyoming and Montana
    WYOMING STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Plate I Thomas A. Drean, State Geologist Wind/Bighorn Basin Plan II - Available Groundwater Determination Technical Memorandum Surface Geology - Wind/Bighorn River Basin SWEET GRASS R25E R5E R15E R30E R10E R20E MONTANA Mm PM Jsg T7S KJ !c Pp Jsg KJ water Qt Surface Geology Ti ! Red Lodge PM DO PM PM Ts Ts p^r PM N ^r DO KJ DO !c Wind/Bighorn River Basin Tts Mm water Mm Ti Ti ^r DO Kmt Ti LOCATION MAP p^r ^r ^r Qt WYOMING Wyoming and Montana Kf Qt Ti p^r !c p^r PM 0 100 250 Miles Tts ^r PM DO Ti Jsg MD Ts Ti MzPz Kmv !Pg Qt compiled DO DO Tts Ts Taw DO DO DO water Qt Kc PM ^r Twl Qt Ob O^ by ^r Mm DO !c MD MONTANA Thr Ti Kc Qr Klc p^r Kmv Kc : # Ts ^r : O^ Nikolaus Gribb, Brett Worman, # Ts # water : PM Taw # Kf : PM !cd : Ket Qb Taw Qu Twp Thr # Ki Twl 345 P$Ma : Thr O^ Qa KJg Tfu : Jsg ^r Qu : :: # Kl (! KJk : Qr Qls Tomas Gracias, and Scott Quillinan Qb : Thr Ts Taw # Tfu 37 PM Kft: : # :: T10S Qls # Thr : # ^r Kc (! Kft Kmt # :::::: p^r :: : Qu KJk Kc MD Taw DO Qu # p^r Qg :: Km KJ WYOMING Taw Ti : Kl 2012 Thr : Qb # # # Qg : water DO Qls ::: !c !Pg !cd MDO water water Kc Qa :::::: :: Kmt ::: : Twl 90 : Ti Ts Qu Qa Qg Kmv !Pcg Mm KJk : Qg : 212 : Qu Qg £¤ Kmv KJ ¨¦§ Tts Taw p^r ^r # Kl : Kf Kf 338 Ob !cd Qu Qu Ttp # (! : : : p^r ::: !Pg O^ MD P$Ma Thr : Qa # DO Km Qls 343 ^r Qls Taw : Qb Qg Qls Qa Km Jsg water (! : Qb # !cd ^r Kc BighornLake : MD # Taw Qa Qls Qt MD A′ MD MD Qg Twl !Pg Qu Qb Tii # Twp ^r water MzPz Qg Tfu Kl ::: Taw Taw Twp Qls : Qt Kmv Qa Ob P$Ma : Thr Qa # Tcr ^r water Qa Kft # Qt O^
    [Show full text]
  • The Hypocone As a Key Innovation in Mammalian Evolution (Adaptive Zone/Convergent Evolution/Dentition/Diversity/Theria) JOHN P
    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 92, pp. 10718-10722, November 1995 Evolution The hypocone as a key innovation in mammalian evolution (adaptive zone/convergent evolution/dentition/diversity/Theria) JOHN P. HUNTER* AND JUKKA JERNVALLt *Department of Anatomical Sciences, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8081; and tDepartment of Ecology and Systematics and Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 17, FIN-00014, Finland Communicated by Elwyn L. Simons, Duke University Primate Center, Durham, NC, June 19, 1995 ABSTRACT The hypocone, a cusp added to the primi- occlusal contact between metacrista and paracristid (16), tively triangular upper molar teeth of therian mammals, has crests that are well developed in carnivorous mammals. Thus, evolved convergently >20 times among mammals during the possession of a hypocone is generally thought to be associated Cenozoic. Acquisition of the hypocone itself involves little with herbivory. phenotypic change, but subsequent diversification of groups We investigated the evolutionary potential of the hypocone possessing the hypocone may be greatly enhanced. Our anal- in two ways. First, we compared taxonomic diversity of living, ysis of the Cenozoic mammalian radiations, including the terrestrial, nonvolant mammals with different molar types Recent fauna, shows that high species diversity of mammals across dietary groups to determine whether the hypocone is with hypocones and association of the hypocone with her- indeed associated with herbivorous habits and whether mam- bivory strongly support recognition of the hypocone as a key mals with hypocones are more diverse today than those lacking innovation that has allowed invasion of, and diversification hypocones. Second, we compared the taxonomic diversity of within, herbivorous adaptive zones.
    [Show full text]