DOCSLIB.ORG

Paleontological Contributions

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Paleontological Contributions THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PALEONTOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTIONS September 24, 1979 Paper 95 REVISION OF THE CAMELINAE (ARTIODACTYLA, TYLOPODA) AND DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW GENUS ALFORJAS 1 JESSICA A. HARRISON Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas 66045 ABSTRACT A cladistic analysis of the subfamily Camelinae indicates the presence of two major groups of camels in the Neogene. One group includes the extant lamines of South Amer- ica and their fossil relatives. The other group includes Came/us and its sister group, the gigantic North American genera Megatylo pus and Titanotylo pus. Alforjas taylori, a new genus and species of lamine camel, is described from the Edson local fauna (Hemphillian) of western Kansas. INTRODUCTION The Camelinae constitute one of the most from those of Webb, and are based upon a cla- widely distributed and abundant elements in the distic analysis of the group. Characters used in Neogene faunas of North and South America. In analysis are termed apomorphic (derived) or North America the fossil record of the Camelinae plesiomorphic (primitive), with an autapomor- may be traced from the relatively primitive mid- phic character unique to a particular taxon and a dle Miocene protolabidine camels through the synapomorphic character shared by more than later Cenozoic to the extant genera currently re- one taxon. For more detailed discussions of phy- stricted to Asia and South America. logenetic systematics, see Hennig (1966), Brun- Wortman (1898) produced one of the earliest din (1968), and Wiley (1976); for deductive revisions of the Camelinae, and subsequently sev- testing of hypotheses, see Popper (1968a, b). Mu- eral workers have revised all or part of the group. seum acronyms appearing in this paper are: Matthew left an extensive unpublished manu- KUVP, University of Kansas Museum of Natural script on the Camelidae (Osborn Library, Ameri- History, F:AM, Frick Collection, American Mu- American can Museum of Natural History) in addition to seum of Natural History, and AMNH, the phylogeny that he suggested in 1918. The Museum of Natural History. are in cen- most recent phylogeny of the Camelinae was Measurements.—All measurements The meas- proposed by Webb (1965) in his perceptive and timeters unless otherwise indicated. (I), canines detailed "Osteology of Cume/ops." The rela- urements of diastemata and incisors and molars (M) were taken tionships suggested in this paper differ somewhat (C), premolars (P), on the teeth themselves unless otherwise noted. Upper molars were measured for length along the Manuscript received March 9, 1979. 2 The University of Kansas Paleontological Contributions—Paper 95 occlusal surface of the ectoloph. Width equals seum of Natural History. I also appreciate access the maximum distance transverse to the long axis to the collections of the University of Kansas of the tooth. The mandibular symphysis was meas- Museum of Natural History and the University ured on the ventral surface from the posterior of Nebraska State Museum. Special thanks go to border of the first lower incisor to the posterior E. Manning and H. Galiano for their insight, end of the symphysis. Width of the lower molars encouragement, and patience. I also thank J. G. was measured transversely across the middle of Honey for helpful conversations on the proto- the anterior portion of each tooth. Mean and labidine camels. J. A. Breyer and B. E. Taylor standard deviation were calculated only for those critically read the manuscript. The expertise of elements with a sample size of four or more. G. Krochak facilitated the processing of several For additional meristic data, see tables in Harri- loans. This son (1979). project was supported in part by Acknowledgements.—I am indebted to B. E. National Science Foundation Grant DEB77- Taylor and R. H. Tedford for their advice and 15869, Geological Society of America Grant stimulating criticism as well as their permission 2202-77, and a Summer Fellowship from the to utilize fossil collections of the American Mu- Graduate School of the University of Kansas. RELATIONSHIPS OF THE CAMELINAE The cladogram in Figure 1 graphically shows discussed in regard to their polarity and distribu- inferred relationships of the Camelinae discussed tion among the Camelinae and outgroup taxa. in this paper. Characters appearing at nodes 1 Table 1 summarizes the distribution of several through 23 on the cladogram are listed and then of the characters utilized in this study. FIG. 1. Cladogram showing proposed relationships of the subfamily Camelinae. Harrison—Revision of the Camelinae 3 Node 1. The Synthetoceratinae (Fig. 1) are Node 9. Pliauchenia, Hemiauchenia, Palaeo- distinguished by the following synapomorphies: lama, and Lama share the following apomorphic A. Single-shafted rostral horn formed of fused characters: maxillary processes. A. Lacrimal vacuity reduced. B. Paired supraorbital horns derived from the B. Rostrum shortened. frontals. Node 10. Pliauchenia is primitive in all Node 2. Poebrotherium and the Camel; ,, le known characters relative to the remaining gen- are united by: era in the Lamini. A. Extreme reduction of metapodials II and V. Node 11. Hemiauchenia, Palaeolama, and B. Divergent distal metapodials III and IV. Lama are united by: C. Anteriorly, the vertebrarterial canal passes A. In and P 1 small. through base of neural arch; posteriorly, verte- B. 132 small. bral artery is confluent with neural canal. Node 12 . The autapomorphy distinguishing D. Tympanic bulla inflated and filled with Hemiauchenia is extreme elongation of the limbs spongy, canccllous bone. and cervical vertebrae. Poebrotheriurn is not distinguished by an autapo- Node 13. Palaeolama and Lama form a nat- morphy and is primitive relative to the Carnelinae ural group in sharing: for all known characters. A. P 1 absent. Node 3. The Camelinae are a monophyletic B. P I absent. group sharing: C. Maxillary fossa reduced. A. Buccinator fossa weak. D. Lower molars with moderately strong antero- B. Rostrum elongate. external style. Node 4. The Protolabidini have been char- Node 15. Lama differs from Palaeolama in acterized by Honey and Taylor (1978) as shar- having: ing: A. P3 absent. A. Anterior nares laterally expanded. B. Metacarpal length subequal to metatarsal B. Rostrum narrow. length. Node 5. The Camelinae exclusive of the Pro- C. Lower molars with strong anteroexternal style. tolabidini are united by: D. Lacrimal vacuity greatly reduced. A. Metacarpal length exceeds that of metatarsus. E. Nasals extremely retracted. B. Metapodials completely fused. F. 13 4 greatly reduced. C. P absent. Node 16. Alforjas is most closely related to Node 6. Procamelus is the sister taxon to the Camelops in sharing a greatly increased degree of remaining camelines. It retains several primitive hypsodonty in comparison to the other Lamini. characters, but has almost completed the loss of Width of the cheek teeth in Alforjas is reduced 1 2 . in relation to crown length and height, resulting Node 7. At Node 7 it becomes apparent that in a very slim, hypsodont dentition. two main tribes (see following classification) Node 17. Alforjas is primitive in all known comprise the bulk of the Camelinae. These two characters relative to Came/ops. tribes arc united by: Node 18. Came/ops is derived relative to A. 1 2 absent. Alforjas in having: B. P 2 absent. A. Cheek teeth extremely hypsodont. C. Po absent. B. In absent. D. Raised posterolateral edges on the proximal C. P I absent. end of the first phalanx. D. P 3 absent. E. Erythrocytes ovoid. E. Dorsal surface of mandibular condyle trans- Node 8. The Lamini are united by: versely concave. A. Configuration of the anterior end of the na- F. Suspensory ligament scar extends to center of sals. shaft and has a raised center. B. Lower molars with anteroexternal style (= Node 19. The Camelini, consisting of Came- llama buttress of Webb, 1965). lus and the giant North American forms, is TABLE 1 . —Summary of Character Distribution in the Camelinae and Outgroup Taxa. Character Camelinae Procameltts Alforjas Camelops 1. P lost lost lost 2. 1 2 very reduced lost lost 3. present present present 4. C' laterally compressed reduced; laterally very reduced; compressed laterally compressed 5. C, laterally compressed reduced ; laterally very reduced; compressed laterally compressed 6. 13' present present lost 7. 13 , present present lost 8. p2 present lost lost 9. P2 present lost lost 10. P 3 present internal crescent internal crescent incomplete incomplete 11. 13:, present present lost 12. P4 present present reduced 13. Anteroexternal style on absent weak moderate lower molars 14. Crown height moderately high moderately high extremely high 15. Premaxilla light to moderate light light 16. Lacrimal vacuity large very large 17. Maxillary fossa moderately large large 18. Nasals flattened arched very arched 19. Rostrum long long long 20. Zygomatic arch curved curved curved 21. Postglenoid foramen moderately large small small 22. Postglenoid process small small moderately small 23. Postglenoid facet on centrally positioned; centrally positioned; centrally positioned; mandibular condyle transversely elongated transversely elongated transversely elongated 24. Diastemal crest on tnandible sharp sharp very sharp 25. Angular process on mandible moderate; inflected small; inflected moderate; inflected 26. Dorsal surface of mandibular concave-convex concave-convex concave condyle 27. Metacarpal length vs. metc.>mett. metc.>mett. metc.>mett. metatarsal length 28. Metapodial elements fused fused fused
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Stable Isotopes, Hypsodonty, and the Paleodiet of Hemiauchenia (Mammalia: Camelidae): a Morphological Specialization Creating Ecological Generalization
    Paleobiology, 29(2), 2003, pp. 230±242 Stable isotopes, hypsodonty, and the paleodiet of Hemiauchenia (Mammalia: Camelidae): a morphological specialization creating ecological generalization Robert S. Feranec Abstract.ÐMorphological adaptations may indicate increased specialization (narrowing of ecolog- ical niche) or expansion of the suite of lifestyles available to an organism (increasing niche breadth). Hypsodonty in mammals generally has been interpreted as a specialization into a grazing niche from a browsing niche. Here I examine the feeding strategy of the extinct hypsodont camel Hem- iauchenia through an analysis of stable carbon isotope values from its tooth enamel, which was used to clarify its feeding strategy and to resolve con¯icting interpretations of dental versus muzzle attributes. The paleodiet of Hemiauchenia is then used to test whether hypsodonty correlates to graz- ing within fossil Lamini. This study focuses on fossils from Florida, which is geographically ideal because unlike other regions of the country almost all extant plants on which animals browse use the C3 photosynthetic pathway. In contrast, most of the grasses and sedges utilized by grazers use the C4 photosynthetic pathway. If Hemiauchenia was an obligate grazer, the stable carbon isotope values of tooth enamel should re¯ect primarily a diet of C4 grass and sedge (.21.3½). If Hem- iauchenia was mainly a browser, the isotopic value should be considerably more negative re¯ecting 13 ingestion primarily of C3 browse (,27.9½). The mean d C values for Hemiauchenia during each time interval average more negative than 28.0½, indicating a dominantly C3 browse diet, and there is no evidence for abandonment of the browsing niche from the Hemphillian through the Ran- cholabrean North American Land Mammal Ages.
    [Show full text]
  • Growth Rate and Duration of Growth in the Adult Canine of Smilodon Gracilis, and Inferences on Diet Through Stable Isotope Analysis
    Bull. Fla. Mus. Nat. Hist. (2005) 45(4): 369-377 369 GROWTH RATE AND DURATION OF GROWTH IN THE ADULT CANINE OF SMILODON GRACILIS, AND INFERENCES ON DIET THROUGH STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS Robert S. Feranec1,2 Trophic structure and interconnectedness have important implications for diversity and stability in ecosystems. While it is generally difficult to determine trophic structure and the specific prey of predators in ancient ecosystems, analysis of stable δ13 δ18 isotope ratios in tooth enamel can be used to exclude taxa from a predator’s diet. This study analyzes Cv-pdb and Ov-pdb values in a canine of Smilodon gracilis to understand tooth growth and the preferred prey of this species. Oxygen isotope results show a 5 mm/month growth rate and a duration of growth estimated to be 16 months long. The carbon isotope results suggest δ13 consumption of animals that depended only on C3 plants. Due to overlap in Cv-pdb values, it appears that Hemiauchenia and Platygonus may have been included in the diet of this individual of S. gracilis, while Equus and Mammuthus were probably δ13 excluded. Also, the mean Cv-pdb values of S. gracilis were more negative than the prey, which may indicate prey captured in a closed environment, or consumption of species present at Leisey 1A but not yet analyzed isotopically. This study shows that determining trophic relationships and interconnectedness within ancient ecosystems is possible. Key Words: Smilodon; tooth development; diet; stable isotopes; enamel INTRODUCTION common carnivore found at the LSP 1A locality was the Trophic interconnectedness has important implications saber-toothed felid Smilodon gracilis (Berta 1995).
    [Show full text]
  • AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES Published by Tnui Amermican MUSZUM W Number 632 Near York Cityratt1ral Historay June 9, 1933
    AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES Published by Tnui AmERMICAN MUSZUM W Number 632 Near York CityRATt1RAL HisToRay June 9, 1933 56.9, 735 G: 14.71, 4 A SKULL AND MANDIBLE OF GIRAFFOKERYX PUNJABIENSIS PILGRIM By EDWIN H. COLBERT The genus Giraffokeryx was founded by Dr. G. E. Pilgrim to desig- nate a primitive Miocene giraffe from the lower Siwalik beds of northern India. Doctor Pilgrim, in a series of papers,' described Giraffokeryx on the basis of fragmental and scattered dentitions.. Naturally, Pilgrim's knowledge of the genus was rather incomplete, and he was unable tQ formulate any opinions as to the structure.of the skull or mandible. An almost complete skull, found in the northern Punjab in 1922 by Mr. Barnum Brown of the American Museum, proves to be that of Giraffokeryx, and it exhibits such striking and unusual characters that a separate description of it has seemed necessary. This skull, together with numerous teeth and a lower. jaw, gives us. a very good comprehen- sion of the genus which forms the subject.of this paper. The drawings of the skull were made by John. C. Germann, and the remaining ones were done by Margaret Matthew. MATERIAL DESCRIBED Only the material referred to in this description will here be listed. There' are a great many specimens of Gir'affokeryx in the American'Mu- seum collection, but since 'most of them are'teeth, they will not be considered at this time. A subsequent paper, dealing with the American Museum Siwalik collection in detail, wtyill contain a complete list of the Giraffokeryx material.
    [Show full text]
  • Pleistocene Mammals from Extinction Cave, Belize
    Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences Pleistocene Mammals From Extinction Cave, Belize Journal: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences Manuscript ID cjes-2018-0178.R3 Manuscript Type: Article Date Submitted by the 04-May-2019 Author: Complete List of Authors: Churcher, C.S.; University of Toronto, Zoology Central America, Pleistocene, Fauna, Vertebrate Palaeontology, Keyword: Limestone cave Is the invited manuscript for consideration in a Special Not applicableDraft (regular submission) Issue? : https://mc06.manuscriptcentral.com/cjes-pubs Page 1 of 43 Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 1 1 PLEISTOCENE MAMMALS FROM EXTINCTION CAVE, BELIZE 2 by C.S. CHURCHER1 Draft 1Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5S 2C6 and 322-240 Dallas Rd., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8V 4X9 (corresponding address): e-mail [email protected] https://mc06.manuscriptcentral.com/cjes-pubs Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences Page 2 of 43 2 4 5 ABSTRACT. A small mammalian fauna is recorded from Extinction Cave (also called Sibun 6 Cave), east of Belmopan, on the Sibun River, Belize, Central America. The animals recognized 7 are armadillo (†Dasypus bellus), American lion (†Panthera atrox), jaguar (P. onca), puma or 8 mountain lion (Puma concolor), Florida spectacled bear (†Tremarctos floridanus), javelina or 9 collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), llama (Camelidae indet., ?†Palaeolama mirifica), red brocket 10 deer (Mazama americana), bison (Bison sp.) and Mexican half-ass (†Equus conversidens), and 11 sabre-tooth cat († Smilodon fatalis) may also be represented (‘†’ indicates an extinct taxon). 12 Bear and bison are absent from the region today. The bison record is one of the more southernly 13 known. The bear record is almost the mostDraft westerly known and a first for Central America.
    [Show full text]
  • Preliminary Post-Cranial Metric Analysis of Mammoths from the Hot Springs Mammoth Site, South Dakota
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies Nebraska Academy of Sciences 1977 Preliminary Post-Cranial Metric Analysis Of Mammoths From The Hot Springs Mammoth Site, South Dakota Barbara Lee Dutrow Chadron State College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tnas Dutrow, Barbara Lee, "Preliminary Post-Cranial Metric Analysis Of Mammoths From The Hot Springs Mammoth Site, South Dakota" (1977). Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies. 445. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tnas/445 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Nebraska Academy of Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societiesy b an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. COLLEGIATE SECTION PRELIMINARY POST-CRANIAL METRIC ANALYSIS OF MAMMOTHS FROM THE HOT SPRINGS MAMMOTH SITE, SOUTH DAKOTA BARBARA LEE DUTROW Department of Earth Sciences Chadron State College, Chadron, Nebraska 69337 Salvage investigations of a Karst depression containing more than but is not currently available. nine Late Pleistocene mammoth were conducted during approxi­ mately twenty field days in the summers of 1974 and 1975. The deposit contains a local death assemblage of a mammoth population. METHODOLOGY A post-cranial metric analysis has been conducted on the fossil elephant remains. Excavation of the site followed standard archaeological and paleontological techniques as applied at the following t t t sites: Murray Springs, Lehner Ranch, Boney Springs, and Hudson-Meng. Bones were mapped in situ, both vertically INTRODUCTION and horizontally, as encountered in the fill.
    [Show full text]
  • Palaeontologia Electronica COMPARATIVE VARIABILITY OF
    Palaeontologia Electronica http://palaeo-electronica.org COMPARATIVE VARIABILITY OF INTERMEMBRANOUS AND ENDOCHONDRAL BONES IN PLEISTOCENE MAMMALS Kristina R. Raymond and Donald R. Prothero ABSTRACT Study of the embryology and ossification of modern bones predicts that fossil intermembranous bones (which ossify from connective tissue) will exhibit greater size variability than endochondral bones (which are formed from embryological cartilagi- nous precursors), because intermembranous bones are less tightly constrained by joints and articular surfaces. To evaluate this hypothesis, we measured multiple dimen- sions of 989 intermembranous bones (patellae and other sesamoids) of the saber- toothed cat Smilodon fatalis, the Ice Age lion Panthera atrox, the bison Bison antiquus, the horse Equus occidentalis, the camel Camelops hesternus, the ground sloths Paramylodon (=Glossotherium) harlani and Nothrotheriops shastensis from Rancho La Brea and from the late Pleistocene San Josecito Cave in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. These were compared to measurements of 811 endochondral bones (primarily astragali) of comparable size. Through statistical analyses (coefficients of variation, ANOVA, modi- fied Levene’s test, and t-tests) we found slight evidence of higher variability in many of the intermembranous bones of these taxa (21 out of 27 CVs were higher for intermem- branous bones than endochondral bones), although this trend is not found in all taxa. Using a modified Levene’s test, only Smilodon and some of the dimensions of horse and bison patellae are significantly more variable than the corresponding dimensions of the astragali. Although the results are mixed, at least some data show that inter- membranous bones are not as tightly constrained by growth and by adjacent tissues as are endochondral bones.
    [Show full text]
  • New Remains of Primitive Ruminants from Thailand: Evidence of the Early
    ZSC071.fm Page 231 Thursday, September 13, 2001 6:12 PM New0Blackwell Science, Ltd remains of primitive ruminants from Thailand: evidence of the early evolution of the Ruminantia in Asia GRÉGOIRE MÉTAIS, YAOWALAK CHAIMANEE, JEAN-JACQUES JAEGER & STÉPHANE DUCROCQ Accepted: 23 June 2001 Métais, G., Chaimanee, Y., Jaeger, J.-J. & Ducrocq S. (2001). New remains of primitive rumi- nants from Thailand: evidence of the early evolution of the Ruminantia in Asia. — Zoologica Scripta, 30, 231–248. A new tragulid, Archaeotragulus krabiensis, gen. n. et sp. n., is described from the late Eocene Krabi Basin (south Thailand). It represents the oldest occurrence of the family which was pre- viously unknown prior to the Miocene. Archaeotragulus displays a mixture of primitive and derived characters, together with the M structure on the trigonid, which appears to be the main dental autapomorphy of the family. We also report the occurrence at Krabi of a new Lophiomerycid, Krabimeryx primitivus, gen. n. et sp. n., which displays affinities with Chinese representatives of the family, particularly Lophiomeryx. The familial status of Iberomeryx is dis- cussed and a set of characters is proposed to define both Tragulidae and Lophiomerycidae. Results of phylogenetic analysis show that tragulids are monophyletic and appear nested within the lophiomerycids. The occurrence of Tragulidae and Lophiomerycidae in the upper Eocene of south-east Asia enhances the hypothesis that ruminants originated in Asia, but it also challenges the taxonomic status of traguloids within the Ruminantia. Grégoire Métais, Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution, UMR 5554 CNRS, Case 064, Université de Montpellier II, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
    [Show full text]
  • Prospects for Rewilding with Camelids
    Journal of Arid Environments 130 (2016) 54e61 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Arid Environments journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jaridenv Prospects for rewilding with camelids Meredith Root-Bernstein a, b, *, Jens-Christian Svenning a a Section for Ecoinformatics & Biodiversity, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark b Institute for Ecology and Biodiversity, Santiago, Chile article info abstract Article history: The wild camelids wild Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus), guanaco (Lama guanicoe), and vicuna~ (Vicugna Received 12 August 2015 vicugna) as well as their domestic relatives llama (Lama glama), alpaca (Vicugna pacos), dromedary Received in revised form (Camelus dromedarius) and domestic Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) may be good candidates for 20 November 2015 rewilding, either as proxy species for extinct camelids or other herbivores, or as reintroductions to their Accepted 23 March 2016 former ranges. Camels were among the first species recommended for Pleistocene rewilding. Camelids have been abundant and widely distributed since the mid-Cenozoic and were among the first species recommended for Pleistocene rewilding. They show a range of adaptations to dry and marginal habitats, keywords: Camelids and have been found in deserts, grasslands and savannas throughout paleohistory. Camelids have also Camel developed close relationships with pastoralist and farming cultures wherever they occur. We review the Guanaco evolutionary and paleoecological history of extinct and extant camelids, and then discuss their potential Llama ecological roles within rewilding projects for deserts, grasslands and savannas. The functional ecosystem Rewilding ecology of camelids has not been well researched, and we highlight functions that camelids are likely to Vicuna~ have, but which require further study.
    [Show full text]
  • Morton County, Kansas Michael Anthony Calvello Fort Hays State University
    Fort Hays State University FHSU Scholars Repository Master's Theses Graduate School Summer 2011 Mammalian Fauna From The ulF lerton Gravel Pit (Ogallala Group, Late Miocene), Morton County, Kansas Michael Anthony Calvello Fort Hays State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.fhsu.edu/theses Part of the Geology Commons Recommended Citation Calvello, Michael Anthony, "Mammalian Fauna From The ulF lerton Gravel Pit (Ogallala Group, Late Miocene), Morton County, Kansas" (2011). Master's Theses. 135. https://scholars.fhsu.edu/theses/135 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at FHSU Scholars Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of FHSU Scholars Repository. - MAMMALIAN FAUNA FROM THE FULLERTON GRAVEL PIT (OGALLALA GROUP, LATE MIOCENE), MORTON COUNTY, KANSAS being A Thesis Presented to the Graduate Faculty of the Fort Hays State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Michael Anthony Calvello B.A., State University of New York at Geneseo Date Z !J ~4r u I( Approved----c-~------------- Chair, Graduate Council Graduate Committee Approval The Graduate Committee of Michael A. Calvello hereby approves his thesis as meeting partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Science. Approved: )<--+-- ----+-G~IJCommittee Meilnber Approved: ~J, iii,,~ Committee Member 11 ABSTRACT The Fullerton Gravel Pit, Morton County, Kansas is one of many sites in western Kansas at which the Ogallala Group crops out. The Ogallala Group was deposited primarily by streams flowing from the Rocky Mountains. Evidence of water transport is observable at the Fullerton Gravel Pit through the presence of allochthonous clasts, cross-bedding, pebble alignment, and fossil breakage and subsequent rounding.
    [Show full text]
  • Paleobiology of a Large Mammal Community from the Late Pleistocene of Sonora, Mexico
    Quaternary Research (2021), 102, 247–259 doi:10.1017/qua.2020.125 Research Article Paleobiology of a large mammal community from the late Pleistocene of Sonora, Mexico Rachel A. Shorta* , Laura G. Emmertb, Nicholas A. Famosoc,d, Jeff M. Martina,†, Jim I. Meade,f, Sandy L. Swifte and Arturo Baezg aDepartment of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 USA; bDon Sundquist Center of Excellence in Paleontology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee 37614 USA; cJohn Day Fossil Beds National Monument, U.S. National Park Service, Kimberly, Oregon 97848 USA; dDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403 USA; eThe Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, S.D.,1800 Hwy 18 Bypass, Hot Springs, South Dakota, 57747 USA; fDesert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85745 USA and gCollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 USA Abstract A paleontological deposit near San Clemente de Térapa represents one of the very few Rancholabrean North American Land Mammal Age sites within Sonora, Mexico. During that time, grasslands were common, and the climate included cooler and drier summers and wetter winters than currently experienced in northern Mexico. Here, we demonstrate restructuring in the mammalian community associated with environmental change over the past 40,000 years at Térapa. The fossil community has a similar number of carnivores and herbivores whereas the modern community consists mostly of carnivores. There was also a 97% decrease in mean body size (from 289 kg to 9 kg) because of the loss of megafauna.
    [Show full text]
  • Giant Camels from the Cenozoic of North America SERIES PUBLICATIONS of the SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
    Giant Camels from the Cenozoic of North America SERIES PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Emphasis upon publication as a means of "diffusing knowledge" was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. In his formal plan for the Institution, Joseph Henry outlined a program that included the following statement: "It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge." This theme of basic research has been adhered to through the years by thousands of titles issued in series publications under the Smithsonian imprint, commencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Astrophysics Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to the H^arine Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology Smithsonian Folklife Studies Smithsonian Studies in Air and Space Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology In these series, the Institution publishes small papers and full-scale monographs that refXJrt the research and collections of its various museums and bureaux or of professional colleagues in the world of science and scholarship. The publications are distributed by mailing lists to libraries, universities, and similar institutions throughout the worid. Papers or monographs submitted for series publication are received by the Smithsonian Institution Press, subject to its own review for format and style, only through departments of the various Smithsonian museums or bureaux, where the manuscripts are given substantive review. Press requirements for manuscript and art preparation are outlined on the inside back cover.
    [Show full text]
  • Multivariate Discriminant Function Analysis of Camelid Astragali
    Palaeontologia Electronica palaeo-electronica.org A method for improved identification of postcrania from mammalian fossil assemblages: multivariate discriminant function analysis of camelid astragali Edward Byrd Davis and Brianna K. McHorse ABSTRACT Character-rich craniodental specimens are often the best material for identifying mammalian fossils to the genus or species level, but what can be done with the many assemblages that consist primarily of dissociated postcrania? In localities lacking typi- cally diagnostic remains, accurate identification of postcranial material can improve measures of mammalian diversity for wider-scale studies. Astragali, in particular, are often well-preserved and have been shown to have diagnostic utility in artiodactyls. The Thousand Creek fauna of Nevada (~8 Ma) represents one such assemblage rich in postcranial material but with unknown diversity of many taxa, including camelids. We use discriminant function analysis (DFA) of eight linear measurements on the astragali of contemporaneous camelids with known taxonomic affinity to produce a training set that can then be used to assign taxa to the Thousand Creek camelid material. The dis- criminant function identifies, at minimum, four classes of camels: “Hemiauchenia”, Alforjas, Procamelus, and ?Megatylopus. Adding more specimens to the training set may improve certainty and accuracy for future work, including identification of camelids in other faunas of similar age. For best statistical practice and ease of future use, we recommend using DFA rather than qualitative analyses of biplots to separate and diag- nose taxa. Edward Byrd Davis. University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History and Department of Geological Sciences, 1680 East 15th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon 97403. [email protected] Brianna K.
    [Show full text]