DOCSLIB.ORG

The American Genus Penetrigonias Tanner & Martin, 1976 (Mammalia: Rhinocerotidae) As a Stem Group Elasmothere and Ancestor of Menoceras Troxell, 1921

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The American Genus Penetrigonias Tanner & Martin, 1976 (Mammalia: Rhinocerotidae) As a Stem Group Elasmothere and Ancestor of Menoceras Troxell, 1921 Zitteliana A 52 (2012) 79 The American genus Penetrigonias Tanner & Martin, 1976 (Mammalia: Rhinocerotidae) as a stem group elasmothere and ancestor of Menoceras Troxell, 1921 Kurt Heissig Zitteliana A 52, 79 – 95 Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologe und Geologie, Richard Wagner Str. 10, München, 23.05.2012 D-80333 Munich, Germany Manuscript received E-mail: [email protected] 03.02.2012; revision accepted 17.04.2012 ISSN 1612 - 412X Abstract A detailed character study of the early Oligocene skull of Penetrigonias dakotensis (Peterson, 1920) kept in the Bavarian State Collec- tion of Paleontology and Geology at Munich, Germany, and comparisons of this specimen with geologically older species of the genus has resulted in the recognition of features characterizing this lineage of small-sized rhinoceroses of North America. Morphological trends recognizable in the upper cheek teeth of P. dakotensis are present also in the early Elasmotheriini, suggesting that the genus Penetrigonias may represent a stem group representative of this tribe. At the same time, the more advanced characters of the latest early Oligocene species P. dakotensis suggest that the genus Menoceras with its Eurasian and American species may represent the successor of this species. A cladistic analysis of the characters of early Rhinocerotidae from America results in a scheme explaining how and when this family may have split into its different tribes. Key words: Elasmotheriini, North America, Menoceras, Penetrigonias, Paleogene, Phylogeny, Rhinocerotidae Kurzfassung Eine genaue Untersuchung des unteroligozänen Schädels von Penetrigonias dakotensis (Peterson, 1920) in der Bayerischen Staats- sammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie und Vergleiche mit älteren Arten der Gattung erlauben es, den typischen Merkmalsbestand die- ser phyletischen Linie kleinwüchsiger Nashörner Nordamerikas zu erfassen. Spezifische morphologische Trends der oberen Backenzähne stimmen mit denen früher Elasmotheriini überein, so dass die Gattung Penetrigonias als Stammgruppen-Vertreter dieses Tribus gelten kann. Zugleich lässt die jüngste, unteroligozäne Art, P. dakotensis, in ihren fortschrittlichen Merkmalen erkennen, dass die untermiozäne Gattung Menoceras mit ihren amerikanischen und eurasischen Vertretern wohl als Nachkomme dieser Art anzusehen ist. Eine cladistische Analyse der Merkmale früher Rhinocerotidae Amerikas ergibt ein Schema, das zeigt wie und wann sich die Familie in ihre verschiedenen Tribus aufgespalten haben könnte. Schlüsselwörter: Elasmotheriini, Nordamerika, Menoceras, Penetrigonias, Paläogen, Phylogenie, Rhinocerotidae 1. Introduction son, 1920). The specimen today is deposited in the Bavarian State Collection of Paleontology and Geol- In 1998, the Bavarian State Collection in Munich ogy in Munich, Germany, under accession number (BSPG) acquired an unprepared, vertically com- BSPG 1998 I 34. pressed skull of a small rhinoceros from Dakota. The combination Penetrigonias dakotensis (Peter- Unfortunately, the precise age and provenance of son, 1920) was first used by Prothero (2005: 29), who the fossil have not been reported by the merchants. also assigned to this species (as a junior synonym) The only indication provided reads “90 km south of the Eocene type species P. hudsoni Tanner & Mar- Roundup, Dakota”, which, however, does not make tin, 1976. The characters of the Munich specimen, sense. The adhering matrix, a greenish, heavily cal- however, are so peculiar that a more detailed study cified sandstone, apparently is the typical sediment on the phylogenetic significance is mandated. The of the Protoceras channels of the Whitneyan. After fundaments of this analysis are, on the one hand, the preparation, the dentition allowed the identification survey of the known specimens of the genus by Pro- of the specimen as Penetrigonias dakotensis (Peter- thero (2005: 29–35) and, on the other hand, the casts Zitteliana A 52 (2012) 80 of several specimens obtained from the South Da- ence, Denver, CO. kota School of Mines in Rapid City. For comparison • FMNH: Field Museum of Natural History, with Old World Elasmotheriini the specimens housed Chicago, IL. in the Bavarian State Collection from Anatolia and • IVAU: Instituut voor Aardwetenschappen, Pakistan, as well as a sample of casts from the same Rijks Universiteit Utrecht, collection were used, completed by published illus- • LACM: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles trations of material from the works of various authors. County, CA. • LSUMG: Louisiana State University Museum of Geology, Baton Rouge, LA. 2. Material and Methods • MHNT: Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, Toulouse • PIUU : Paleontological Institute , University of 2.1 Specimens included in this study Uppsala • ROM: Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto • BSPG : Bavarian State Collection of Paleontol- • SMNH: Saskatchewan Museum of Natural ogy and Geology History, Regina, Sask. • Penetrigonias dakotensis: 1998 I 34 • TMM: Texas Memorial Museum, University of • Menoceras zitteli: AS 340 holotype, casts of Texas, Austin, TX. specimens from Paulhiac (1968 XVI 144), Velleron • UCMP: University of California Museum of (1968 XVI 141) and Flörsheim (Orig. M 6748) Paleontology, Berkeley, CA. • Menoceras arikarense: 1964 X 107, 108 • UNSM: University of Nebraska State Museum, • Caementodon oettingenae: 1956 II 364, 1968 XVI Lincoln, NE. 57 • Bugtirhinus praecursor: casts 1968 XVI 58 • Hispanotherium grimmi: holotype 1968 VI 1, 2 2.2 Methods and others The terminology used for the morphological de- Specimens in other collections used for direct com- scription of the dentition follows Osborn (1898: 107), parison: modified by Heissig (1969: 11–12), and that for the • AMNH: American Museum of Natural History, skeletal elements primarily Heissig (1972: pl. 13). New York The different grades of molarisation of the upper • Penetrigonias dakotensis: 1110 holotype premolars are named according to Heissig (1969: • F:AM: Frick Collection in the AMNH 15–16, fig. 4). Upper teeth are asigned capital let- • Penetrigonias.hudsoni: 105019 ters, while lower teeth are indicated by lower case • MNB: Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt- letters: I, i = incisors, C, c = canine, P, p = premolars, Universität Berlin M, m = molars, D, d = deciduous molars, combined • Penetrigonias dakotensis: Ma 42545 with numbers. E.g. dc = lower deciduous canine, D4 • MNHN: Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, = fourth milk molar. Paris The cladistic analysis was performed without the • Pleuroceros pleuroceros: Type skull use of mathematical processes, but rather by weight- • NHM : The Natural History Museum, London ing the importance of characters. The characters • Bugtirhinus praecursor: M 15361 are sorted into three categories, i.e. (a) “unique”, (b) • NMB: Naturhistorisches Museum Basel “important but homoplastic in different rhino clades” • Menoceras zitteli: Figured specimen of Viret and (c) others of unknown importance. This method (1958: fig. 77) may be somewhat subjective, but selecting and sepa- • SDSM: South Dakota School of Mines and Tech- rating characters is generally subjective, regardless nology, Rapid City of whether they subsequently are treated mathemati- • Penetrigonias hudsoni: 5331 cally or not. Furthermore, no argument can be pro- • Amphicaenopus platycephalus duced to justify the equal weighting of characters. • SMF: Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Sen- Characters occurring in all members of a large clade ckenberg, Frankfurt/M (e.g. a tribe) must be treated as more important • Menoceras zitteli: M 3748, M 6773 than characters that differ in closely related species. • UCBL: Centre de Palóntologie stratigraphique et Both are of different importance as general trends in Paléoécologie, rhino evolution, as, for instance, the molarisation of • Université Claude Bernard Lyon, Villeurbanne premolars or the reduction of incisors, which do not • Menoceras zitteli: cast of the cheek teeth of the allow reversals. Genera or species without known Paulhiac skull 9600, autapomorphies are accepted as valid to keep the taxonomy stable, if they cannot be synonymized. Al- Additional specimens cited from the literature are though this approach does not concur with the cla- housed in the following collections: distic orthodoxy, it is useful especially if only a few • DMNH: Colorado Museum of Nature and Sci- characters are known for the species considered. Zitteliana A 52 (2012) 81 2.3 Special characters fractures on both sides, but there seems to be no contact of the maxilla with the frontal. The frontal re- Many of the taxa included in this study show a gion is very broad above the orbits, rapidly tapering considerable variability in characters that are rather in front and to the rear. The temporal lines occur in stable in most rhinos. In the upper molars the posi- the form of thick and broad ridges, which unite abo- tion of the secondary folds is inconsistent, and thus ve the tips of the zygomatic arches to form a long, the dominating fold sometimes arises from the me- but not elevated sagittal line. A small postorbital pro- taloph as a “crochet”, while in other specimens it is cess and a moderately developed supraorbital swel- borne from the ectoloph as a “crista”. In the upper ling are present. The occiput is not preserved. premolars there occur irregular crests in much higher The robust jugal contacts the lachrymal; the fora- frequency than in other rhino groups. If a crest ari- men lacrimale is not preserved. The posterior end of sing from the lingual side of the mesostyle reaches
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Kapitel 5.Indd
    Cour. Forsch.-Inst. Senckenberg 256 43–56 4 Figs, 2 Tabs Frankfurt a. M., 15. 11. 2006 Neogene Rhinoceroses of the Linxia Basin (Gansu, China) With 4 fi gs, 2 tabs Tao DENG Abstract Ten genera and thirteen species are recognized among the rhinocerotid remains from the Miocene and Pliocene deposits of the Linxia Basin in Gansu, China. Chilotherium anderssoni is reported for the fi rst time in the Linxia Basin, while Aprotodon sp. is found for the fi rst time in Lower Miocene deposits of the basin. The Late Miocene corresponds to a period of highest diversity with eight species, accompanying very abundant macromammals of the Hipparion fauna. Chilotherium wimani is absolutely dominant in number and present in all sites of MN 10–11 age. Compared with other regions in Eurasia and other ages, elasmotheres are more diversifi ed in the Linxia Basin during the Late Miocene. Coelodonta nihowanensis in the Linxia Basin indicates the known earliest appearance of the woolly rhino. The distribution of the Neogene rhinocerotids in the Linxia Basin can be correlated with paleoclimatic changes. Key words: Neogene, rhinoceros, biostratigraphy, systematic paleontology, Linxia Basin, China Introduction mens of mammalian fossils at Hezheng Paleozoological Museum in Gansu and Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology The Linxia Basin is situated in the northeastern corner of and Paleoanthropology in Beijing. the Tibetan Plateau, in the arid southeastern part ofeschweizerbartxxx Gansusng- Several hundred skulls of the Neogene rhinoceroses Province, China. In this basin, the Cenozoic deposits are are known from the Linxia Basin, but most of them belong very thick and well exposed, and produce abundant mam- to the Late Miocene aceratheriine Chilotherium wimani.
    [Show full text]
  • Agate Fossil Beds National Monument: a Proposal
    a frMrfxteaC Tincted Sfatei. 'Hattattat 'Pa'16, Service Cover: FOSSIL SLAB FROM THE AGATE QUARRIES Courtesy University of Nebraska State Museum ANCIENT LIFE AT THE AGATE SITE Illustration by Charles R. Knight Courtesy Chicago Natural History Museum PROPOSED AGATE FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT NEBRASKA August 1963 Department of the Interior National Park Service Midwest Region Omaha, Nebraska Created in I8U9, the Department of the Interior— America's Department of Natural Resources—is concerned with the management, conservation, and development of the Nation's water, wildlife, mineral, forest, and park and recreational resources. It also has major responsibilities for Indian and Territorial affairs. As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department works to assure that nonrenewable re­ sources are developed and used wisely, that park and recreational resources make their full contri­ bution to the progress, prosperity, and security of the United States—now and in the future. CONTENTS Page Introduction 1 The Setting 3 Geologic History 7 Fossil Collecting History 23 The Cook Family - Early Pioneers of the West 29 Significance 33 Suitability 35 Feasibility 38 Conclusions and Recommendations 39 Proposed Development and Use kl The Proposed Area and Its Administration k6 Acknowledgements k7 Bibliography kQ Fifteen Million Years Ago in Western Nebraska From an illustration by Erwin Christinas Courtesy Natural History Magazine INTRODUCTION The Agate Springs Fossil Quarries site located in Sioux County, Nebraska, is world renowned for its rich concentrations of the fossil remains of mammals that lived fifteen million years ago. A study of this site was made by the Midwest Region, National Park Service in the fall of i960, and a preliminary report prepared.
    [Show full text]
  • From the Early Miocene of Southeastern Wyoming Robert M
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Papers in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of 2002 New Amphicyonid Carnivorans (Mammalia, Daphoeninae) from the Early Miocene of Southeastern Wyoming Robert M. Hunt Jr. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geosciencefacpub Part of the Earth Sciences Commons Hunt, Robert M. Jr., "New Amphicyonid Carnivorans (Mammalia, Daphoeninae) from the Early Miocene of Southeastern Wyoming" (2002). Papers in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. 546. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geosciencefacpub/546 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Papers in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 79TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10024 Number 3385, 41 pp., 28 ®gures, 4 tables December 27, 2002 New Amphicyonid Carnivorans (Mammalia, Daphoeninae) from the Early Miocene of Southeastern Wyoming ROBERT M. HUNT, JR.1 CONTENTS Abstract ....................................................................... 2 Introduction .................................................................... 2 Abbreviations ...............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 71St Annual Meeting Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Paris Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada, USA November 2 – 5, 2011 SESSION CONCURRENT SESSION CONCURRENT
    ISSN 1937-2809 online Journal of Supplement to the November 2011 Vertebrate Paleontology Vertebrate Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Society of Vertebrate 71st Annual Meeting Paleontology Society of Vertebrate Las Vegas Paris Nevada, USA Las Vegas, November 2 – 5, 2011 Program and Abstracts Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 71st Annual Meeting Program and Abstracts COMMITTEE MEETING ROOM POSTER SESSION/ CONCURRENT CONCURRENT SESSION EXHIBITS SESSION COMMITTEE MEETING ROOMS AUCTION EVENT REGISTRATION, CONCURRENT MERCHANDISE SESSION LOUNGE, EDUCATION & OUTREACH SPEAKER READY COMMITTEE MEETING POSTER SESSION ROOM ROOM SOCIETY OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING PARIS LAS VEGAS HOTEL LAS VEGAS, NV, USA NOVEMBER 2–5, 2011 HOST COMMITTEE Stephen Rowland, Co-Chair; Aubrey Bonde, Co-Chair; Joshua Bonde; David Elliott; Lee Hall; Jerry Harris; Andrew Milner; Eric Roberts EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Philip Currie, President; Blaire Van Valkenburgh, Past President; Catherine Forster, Vice President; Christopher Bell, Secretary; Ted Vlamis, Treasurer; Julia Clarke, Member at Large; Kristina Curry Rogers, Member at Large; Lars Werdelin, Member at Large SYMPOSIUM CONVENORS Roger B.J. Benson, Richard J. Butler, Nadia B. Fröbisch, Hans C.E. Larsson, Mark A. Loewen, Philip D. Mannion, Jim I. Mead, Eric M. Roberts, Scott D. Sampson, Eric D. Scott, Kathleen Springer PROGRAM COMMITTEE Jonathan Bloch, Co-Chair; Anjali Goswami, Co-Chair; Jason Anderson; Paul Barrett; Brian Beatty; Kerin Claeson; Kristina Curry Rogers; Ted Daeschler; David Evans; David Fox; Nadia B. Fröbisch; Christian Kammerer; Johannes Müller; Emily Rayfield; William Sanders; Bruce Shockey; Mary Silcox; Michelle Stocker; Rebecca Terry November 2011—PROGRAM AND ABSTRACTS 1 Members and Friends of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, The Host Committee cordially welcomes you to the 71st Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in Las Vegas.
    [Show full text]
  • Miocene Development of Life
    Miocene Development of Life Jarðsaga 2 - Saga Lífs og Lands - Ólafur Ingólfsson Thehigh-pointof theage of mammals The Miocene or "less recent" is so called because it contains fewer modern animals than the following Pliocene. The Miocene lasted for 18 MY, ~23-5 MY ago. This was a huge time of transition, the end of the old prehistoric world and the birth of the more recent sort of world. It was also the high point of the age of mammals Open vegetation systems expand • The overall pattern of biological change for the Miocene is one of expanding open vegetation systems (such as deserts, tundra, and grasslands) at the expense of diminishing closed vegetation (such as forests). • This led to a rediversification of temperate ecosystems and many morphological changes in animals. Mammals and birds in particular developed new forms, whether as fast-running herbivores, large predatory mammals and birds, or small quick birds and rodents. Two major ecosystems evolve Two major ecosystems first appeared during the Miocene: kelp forests and grasslands. The expansion of grasslands is correlated to a drying of continental interiors and a global cooling. Later in the Miocene a distinct cooling of the climate resulted in the further reduction of both tropical and conifer forests, and the flourishing of grasslands and savanna in their stead. Modern Grasslands Over one quarter of the Earth's surface is covered by grasslands. Grasslands are found on every continent except Antarctica, and they make up most of Africa and Asia. There are several types of grassland and each one has its own name.
    [Show full text]
  • Agate Fossil Beds
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln U.S. National Park Service Publications and Papers National Park Service 1980 Agate Fossil Beds Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natlpark "Agate Fossil Beds" (1980). U.S. National Park Service Publications and Papers. 160. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natlpark/160 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the National Park Service at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in U.S. National Park Service Publications and Papers by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Agate Fossil Beds cap. tfs*Af Clemson Universit A *?* jfcti *JpRPP* - - - . Agate Fossil Beds Agate Fossil Beds National Monument Nebraska Produced by the Division of Publications National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. 1980 — — The National Park Handbook Series National Park Handbooks, compact introductions to the great natural and historic places adminis- tered by the National Park Service, are designed to promote understanding and enjoyment of the parks. Each is intended to be informative reading and a useful guide before, during, and after a park visit. More than 100 titles are in print. This is Handbook 107. You may purchase the handbooks through the mail by writing to Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC 20402. About This Book What was life like in North America 21 million years ago? Agate Fossil Beds provides a glimpse of that time, long before the arrival of man, when now-extinct creatures roamed the land which we know today as Nebraska.
    [Show full text]
  • Willow H. Nguy1, Jacalyn M. Wittmer1, Sam W. Heads2, M. Jared Thomas2
    Willow H. Nguy1, Jacalyn M. Wittmer1, Sam W. Heads2, M. Jared Thomas2 1Department of Geology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 605 East Springfield Avenue, Champaign, Illinois 2 61820; Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1816 South Oak Street, The bones are beautifully preserved, but exhibit the typical preservation The rediscovery of an exceptional fossil bone bed from a Champaign, Illinois 61820 techniques of the times. The bone bed was excavated upside-down and then condemned university building has led to a revival of vertebrate covered in thick layers of shellac which discolors and becomes brittle over paleontology in the Department of Geology at the University of time. The entire specimen was then plastered into a mount. Both plaster Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This has been realized through a and shellac are damaging to the fossil and required that the fossil be conservation effort for the historically significant specimen and Cranium 2 and conserved quickly. a paleobiological study. The specimen was collected over fifty Side C mandible 2 years ago by Harold R. Wanless from an unspecified Miocene Steps to Preparation locality near Agate Springs, Nebraska. No other information was 1. Matrix is fully removed and bone is carefully lifted out of bone bed included in notes or on the display label. 2. Shellac is dissolved with acetone or ethanol 3. Softened shellac is removed in layers with dental picks and toothbrushes 4. Broken pieces are repaired with Paleobond PB100 5. Internal structure is strengthened by PaleoBond PB002- penetrant stabilizer 6. Cavity mount is made out of Ethafoam to safely and securely hold the curated specimen.
    [Show full text]
  • Sexual Dimorphism and Mortality Bias in a Small Miocene North American Rhino, Menoceras Arikarense
    J Mammal Evol (2007) 14:217–238 DOI 10.1007/s10914-007-9048-4 Sexual Dimorphism and Mortality Bias in a Small Miocene North American Rhino, Menoceras arikarense: Insights into the Coevolution of Sexual Dimorphism and Sociality in Rhinos Matthew C. Mihlbachler Received: 23 February 2007 /Accepted: 23 April 2007 / Published online: 11 October 2007 # Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2007 Abstract Rhinos are the only modern perissodactyls that possess cranial weapons similar to the horns, antlers and ossicones of modern ruminants. Yet, unlike ruminants, there is no clear relationship between sexual dimorphism and sociality. It is possible to extend the study of the coevolution of sociality and sexual dimorphism into extinct rhinos by examining the demographic patterns in large fossil assemblages. An assemblage of the North American early Miocene (∼22 million years ago) rhino, Menoceras arikarense, from Agate Springs National Monument, Nebraska, exhibits dimorphism in incisor size and nasal bone size, but there is no detectible dimorphism in body size. The degree of dimorphism of the nasal horn is greater than the degree of sexual dimorphism of any living rhino and more like that of modern horned ruminants. The greater degree of sexual dimorphism in Menoceras horns may relate to its relatively small body size and suggests that the horn had a more sex-specific function. It could be hypothesized that Menoceras evolved a more gregarious type of sociality in which a fewer number of males were capable of monopolizing a larger number of females. Demographic patterns in the Menoceras assemblage indicate that males suffered from a localized risk of elevated mortality at an age equivalent to the years of early adulthood.
    [Show full text]
  • Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Paleontological Resources Management Plan (Public Version)
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln U.S. National Park Service Publications and Papers National Park Service 9-2020 Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Paleontological Resources Management Plan (Public Version) Scott Kottkamp United States National Park Service, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument Vincent L. Santucci United States National Park Service, Geologic Resources Division Justin S. Tweet United States National Park Service Jessica De Smet University of Oregon Ellen Stark United States National Park Service, Badlands National Park Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natlpark Part of the Environmental Education Commons, Environmental Policy Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, Fire Science and Firefighting Commons, Leisure Studies Commons, Natural Resource Economics Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Nature and Society Relations Commons, Other Environmental Sciences Commons, Other Life Sciences Commons, Paleontology Commons, Physical and Environmental Geography Commons, Public Administration Commons, and the Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration Commons Kottkamp, Scott; Santucci, Vincent L.; Tweet, Justin S.; De Smet, Jessica; and Stark, Ellen, "Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Paleontological Resources Management Plan (Public Version)" (2020). U.S. National Park Service Publications and Papers. 238. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natlpark/238 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the National Park
    [Show full text]
  • Fossil Mammals of Florida •Background •Miocene •Pliocene •Pleistocene Background • During the Break up of Pangea, Florida Left Africa and Joined N
    Fossil Mammals of Florida •Background •Miocene •Pliocene •Pleistocene Background • During the break up of Pangea, Florida left Africa and joined N. America • Dinosaurs were roaming the Earth, but sadly, Florida was underwater • During this time, mammals were also roaming the Earth (tiny little things who spent most of their time trying not to be crushed under sauropod feet) • After the dinosaurs meet their untimely demise, those pesky mammals flourish The Paleogene • The Paleogene includes the first three epochs of the Cenozoic (Paleocene, Eocene, Oligocene) • The Paleogene was a watery time for Florida • During of the middle of the last epoch of the Paleogene (the Oligocene), roughly 35 Mya, Florida began to emerge • There are some terrestrial fossils, but they are few and far between The Neogene • Made up of the remaining epochs of the Cenozoic – Miocene, Pliocene, Pleistocene and Holocene • Mammals have diversified greatly in the post- dino world. By the Neogene they come in all makes and models. Oligocene to Pleistocene • The Horse ▫ Can see the transition from browsing (O-Late M) to grazing (Late M-present) ▫ Can also see transition from three toes to one toe (aka – a hoof) ▫ This lineage has been historically important to the study of evolution, and is still widely stude ▫ http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fhc/ Olg. To Pleist. • Mesohippus Olg. To Pleist. Miocene (“Less New”) • 23 – 5.33 Mya • This is a time when grazing animals diversified, and by the end of the epoch had reached their heydey – exploiting expanding grasslands • This is really good for paleontologists – animals that tend to live in large groups also have a habit of dying together in large groups • Why do we care about lots of specimens of one species? Miocene in N.
    [Show full text]
  • Agate Fossil Beds
    Here at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument are I concentrated the fossils of animals in beds of sedi­ o 1/3 mentary rock, formed, about 19 million years ago, i by the compression of mud, clay, and erosional mate­ &u rials deposited by the action of water and wind. These a a& species of animals, then so numerous, have long been & extinct. The beds, which acquired their name from i their proximity to rock formations containing agates, are under the grass-covered Carnegie and University Hills. From the summits of these hills, named by t Nineteen million years ago o AGATE FOSSIL BEDS early collecting parties, you can look down on the c Si lazy meanders of the Niobrara River, 200 feet below. to. strange creatures walked Early pioneers of scientific research in the West I centered many of their activities here. Capt. James H. o Cook was the first white man to discover fossil bones at Agate Fossil Beds, about 1878. Since then, bones '? a Miocene savanna. from the site have been exhibited throughout the h world. Captain Cook and his son, Harold, made Agate >0) Careful digging Springs Ranch a headquarters for paleontologists and a acquired an excellent fossil collection. at these quarries AGATE FOSSIL BEDS TODAY Scientists estimate that at least 75 percent of the has brought to light fossil-bearing parts of the hills are unquarried. The Miocene fossil mammal bones are extremely abun­ dant, comprise a variety of different species, and are the bones of these animals remarkably well preserved, with numerous complete skeletons. Except for livestock that graze on the hills which relieve the comparatively flat open valley of the Niobrara River, the scene is relatively undisturbed.
    [Show full text]
  • Retallack and Samuels 2020 John
    Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology ISSN: (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ujvp20 Paleosol-based inference of niches for Oligocene and early miocene fossils from the John Day Formation of Oregon Gregory J. Retallack & Joshua X. Samuels To cite this article: Gregory J. Retallack & Joshua X. Samuels (2020): Paleosol-based inference of niches for Oligocene and early miocene fossils from the John Day Formation of Oregon, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2019.1761823 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2019.1761823 View supplementary material Published online: 16 Jun 2020. Submit your article to this journal View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=ujvp20 Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology e1761823 (17 pages) © by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2019.1761823 ARTICLE PALEOSOL-BASED INFERENCE OF NICHES FOR OLIGOCENE AND EARLY MIOCENE FOSSILS FROM THE JOHN DAY FORMATION OF OREGON GREGORY J. RETALLACK*,1 and JOSHUA X. SAMUELS2 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, U.S.A., [email protected]; 2Department of Geosciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee 37614, U.S.A., [email protected] ABSTRACT—Over the past decade, we recorded exact locations of in situ fossils and measured calcareous nodules in paleosols of the Oligocene and lower Miocene (Whitneyan–Arikareean) John Day Formation of Oregon. These data enable precise biostratigraphy within an astronomical time scale of Milankovitch obliquity cycles and also provide mean annual precipitation and vegetation for each species.
    [Show full text]