DOCSLIB.ORG

Evolution and Classification of Tragulina (Ruminantia, Artiodactyla) S71

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Evolution and Classification of Tragulina (Ruminantia, Artiodactyla) S71 See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262698724 Evolution and classification of Tragulina (Ruminantia, Artiodactyla) Article in Paleontological Journal · January 2001 CITATIONS READS 40 624 1 author: I. A. Vislobokova Russian Academy of Sciences 99 PUBLICATIONS 1,495 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Middle Pleistocene mammal faunas of Europe View project Entwicklung der Fauna und Flora im Oligozän und Miozän der Mongolei (FWF-Projekt: P-10505-GEO) View project All content following this page was uploaded by I. A. Vislobokova on 30 May 2014. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. Å À . V i sl ob o k o v a Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Profsoyuznaya 123, Moscow, 117868 Russia (R ecei ved Òèï å 30, 2000) C on t en t s V o l . 3 5 , Su p p l . 2, 200 1 The supplement is published only in English by Ì À!Ê "Nauka/Interperiodica (Russia). Paleonrologi cal Journal ISSN 0031-0301. INTRODUCTION $ 69 L IM B BONES $ 106 Sc a p u l a a n d H u m er u s $ 107 Chapter 1 R a d i u s a n d U l n a $ 110 ÒÍ Å M A IN PROBL EM S OF CL A SSIFICATION M a n u s s » o A ND PHYL OGENY IN TRAGUL INES s v o P el v i s a n d F em u r S111 T i b i a a n d F i b u l a $11ã Chapter 2 P es COM PA RATIV E M ORPHOL OGY S7 7 $ 113 C h ap ter 3 E V O L U T I O N O F T R A G U L I N E S S K U L L $77 S k u l l S h a p e a n d P r o p o r t i o n s S77 ORIGIN ÿ ï S a g i t t a l a n d T em p o r a l C r est s S84 B asa l T r a g u l i n e G r o u p ÿ ï O r b i t a l R eg i o n S84 T r a g u l i n es a n d O t h er P r i m i t i v e A r t i o d a c t y l G r o u p s E t h m o i d a l F i ssu r e $ 86 P a l a t e S86 M A IN EVOL UT IONA RY T REN DS S119 O cc i p i t a l s S88 H er b ivor ou s A d ap t at ions ÿ ãî S p h en o i d $ 88 A d ap tat ion s of Sen so r y T em p o r al S90 and R esp i r at or y O r gan s ÿ ã~ P a r i et a l S94 C u r sor ial A d ap tat i on s ÿ ã1 F r o n t a l $ 94 PHY LOGENET IC PAT 7ERNS N a sa l S95 $ 122 T r a g u l o i d s a n d H y p er t r a g u l o i d s L ac r i m a l S95 ÿ ãã T r a g u l o i d s S] 24 J u g a l S96 H y p er t r a g u l o i d s $ 127 M a x i l l a S96 P a l a t i n e $96 Chapter 4 P r em a x i l l a $ 97 DISPERSA L OF TRAGUL INES S 129 M a n d i b l e $97 Chapter 5 CL A SSIFICATION OF TRAGUL INES D E N T I T I O N $ 99 D en t a l F o r m u l a $ 99 S14 1 I n c iso r s a n d C a n i n es S99 P r em o l a r s $ 99 A C K N OW L ED GM EN T S $ 14 1 M o l a r s $1î ç E n a m el D u r a b i l i t y $ 106 REFEREN CE S S 14 1 ~ Paleontological Journal, Vol. 35, Suppl. 2, 2001, pp. S69–S145. Original Russian Text Copyright © 2001 by Vislobokova. English Translation Copyright © 2001 by MAIK “Nauka /Interperiodica” (Russia). Abstract—The main evolutionary trends of the Tragulina are traced and the systematics and phylogeny of this taxon are revised based on the study of the comparative morphology of fossil and Recent species and on the estimation of the polarity and taxonomic value of features. Nine families are included in the Tragulina. The existence of two main traguline groups is confirmed, and the names Traguloidea and Hypertraguloidea are restored for these groups. The retention of many plesiomorphic characters shared with ancient eutherian mam- mals and the possession of very deep apomorphies distinguish tragulines from other artiodactyls and support a pre-Eocene origin of the Tragulina connected with the early radiation of artiodactyls. INTRODUCTION Tragulines are the most primitive extinct and extant their primitive characters. Some plesiomorphies are ruminants which flourished during the second part of shared with the Suiformes. For example, Tragulus jav- the Paleogene and gave rise to the pecorans at the anicus shares more muscle antigens with the Suiformes beginning of the Oligocene. The pecorans are one of the than with ruminants (Duwe, 1969). However, the stom- most numerous and widespread groups among Recent ach of Recent tragulids already has a true ruminant mammals. Hence, the study of tragulines helps us to reticulum and other ruminant characters (Boas, 1890) understand one of the most significant and intriguing which are not present in the Suiformes. chapters in the evolution of mammals. The main purposes of this work are (1) to clarify the According to the fossil record, the history of tra- evolutionary trends and relationships of tragulines gulines covers more than 50 million years from the using cranial, dental, and postcranial characters; and Middle Eocene to the present, but it seems that their (2) to revise the phylogeny and classification of the tra- history is much longer. The appearance of tragulines gulines. Special emphasis is made on the investigation was one of the earliest and most successful attempts at of character polarities and on the estimation of the tax- the development of herbivorous adaptations and strate- onomic level of features. gies to avoid predators. Even at the early stages of evo- lution, there was a rather wide spectrum of forms This research is based on abundant fossil material adapted to various plant foods. They inhabited all the from China and Mongolia that is housed in the Paleon- continents of the Northern Hemisphere. Most of them tological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences remained largely herbivorous, also feeding on some (PIN); on fossil tragulines from Europe, Asia, America, small animals (mollusks, insects, etc.), as living chev- and Africa; and on Recent tragulines from Asia and rotains do. Africa. These specimens are from the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH); Museum of Nat- Notwithstanding the more than 150 years that these ural History, London (BMNH); University of Kansas; ruminants have been studied, and the number of cladis- Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sci- tic analyses that have been undertaken during the past ences; University of Hanoi; and the University of two decades, the taxonomy and phylogeny of the group Montpellier. remain disputable with respect to many questions. This concerns not only rare forms represented by fragmen- Scanning electron microscopy of the enamel ultra- tary material, but also many well-studied genera. Major structure of traguline molars and X-ray study were per- problems include the monophyly of the Tragulina and formed at the Paleontological Institute of the Russian the relationships, rank, and taxonomic position of most Academy of Sciences. groups. The anatomy, behavior, and habitats of Recent chev- Apart from the morphological data (Kaup, 1833; rotains were studied during a biological expedition to Gray, 1845; Milne-Edwards, 1864; Flower, 1867; Gar- Vietnam. rod, 1877; Carlsson, 1926; Flerov, 1931; Janis, 1984; etc.), there is genetic, immunological, and ethological In addition to the traguline material, the rich collec- evidence (Dubost, 1965; Todd, 1975) that distinguish tions of ancient ungulates in the American Museum of Recent tragulids from other ruminants and indicate Natural History were also used in this work. S69 S70 VISLOBOKOVA Chapter 1 THE MAIN PROBLEMS OF CLASSIFICATION AND PHYLOGENY IN TRAGULINES The rank determination and composition of the must possess a set of characters which makes it equiv- taxon Tragulina, proposed by Flower (1883) based on alent in rank to the acknowledged related taxa. the family Tragulidae, as well as the rank determination and composition of some other superspecies of tra- The objective renovation of phylogeny and taxon- guline taxa, is still controversial. The Tragulina has omy must be based on the revelation of the basal struc- been regarded as a suborder of the order Artiodactyla tures and main evolutionary trends (transmission of (Osborn, 1910; Colbert, 1941), an infraorder of the sub- heredity and main adaptation trends).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • An Exemplary Case Study Gérard Dubost
    Convergence characteristics between a rodent, the South American lowland paca, and a ruminant, the African water chevrotain: An exemplary case study Gérard Dubost To cite this version: Gérard Dubost. Convergence characteristics between a rodent, the South American lowland paca, and a ruminant, the African water chevrotain: An exemplary case study. Comptes Rendus Biologies, Elsevier Masson, 2017, 10.1016/j.crvi.2017.02.001. hal-01485153 HAL Id: hal-01485153 https://hal.sorbonne-universite.fr/hal-01485153 Submitted on 8 Mar 2017 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial - NoDerivatives| 4.0 International License G Model CRASS3-3495; No. of Pages 10 C. R. Biologies xxx (2017) xxx–xxx Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Comptes Rendus Biologies ww w.sciencedirect.com Ecology/E´ cologie Convergence characteristics between a rodent, the South American lowland paca, and a ruminant, the African water chevrotain: An exemplary case study Caracte`res convergents entre un rongeur, le
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 1 - Introduction
    EURASIAN MIDDLE AND LATE MIOCENE HOMINOID PALEOBIOGEOGRAPHY AND THE GEOGRAPHIC ORIGINS OF THE HOMININAE by Mariam C. Nargolwalla A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Anthropology University of Toronto © Copyright by M. Nargolwalla (2009) Eurasian Middle and Late Miocene Hominoid Paleobiogeography and the Geographic Origins of the Homininae Mariam C. Nargolwalla Doctor of Philosophy Department of Anthropology University of Toronto 2009 Abstract The origin and diversification of great apes and humans is among the most researched and debated series of events in the evolutionary history of the Primates. A fundamental part of understanding these events involves reconstructing paleoenvironmental and paleogeographic patterns in the Eurasian Miocene; a time period and geographic expanse rich in evidence of lineage origins and dispersals of numerous mammalian lineages, including apes. Traditionally, the geographic origin of the African ape and human lineage is considered to have occurred in Africa, however, an alternative hypothesis favouring a Eurasian origin has been proposed. This hypothesis suggests that that after an initial dispersal from Africa to Eurasia at ~17Ma and subsequent radiation from Spain to China, fossil apes disperse back to Africa at least once and found the African ape and human lineage in the late Miocene. The purpose of this study is to test the Eurasian origin hypothesis through the analysis of spatial and temporal patterns of distribution, in situ evolution, interprovincial and intercontinental dispersals of Eurasian terrestrial mammals in response to environmental factors. Using the NOW and Paleobiology databases, together with data collected through survey and excavation of middle and late Miocene vertebrate localities in Hungary and Romania, taphonomic bias and sampling completeness of Eurasian faunas are assessed.
    [Show full text]
  • Herbivoresherbivores Whatwhat Isis Herbivore?Herbivore?
    HerbivoresHerbivores WhatWhat isis herbivore?herbivore? • A herbivore is an animal that gets its energy from eating plants • special digestive systems Herbivore Taxonomy Order Suborder Family Proboscideae Elephantidae Elephants Equidae Equines, Perissodactyla Tapiridae (Odd-Toe ungulates) Tapir, Rhinocerotidae Rhinoceroses Swines, Suidae Artiodactyla Suina Hippopotamus Hippopotamidae (Even-Toe ungulates) Tylopoda Camellidae Camels & Llamas Tragulina Tragulidae Tragulus Ruminantia Giraffidae Giraffes, Cervids, Cervidae Antilopes, Bovines, Antilocapridae Caprines, Antlopes Bovidae Etc. Cetartiodactyla wwwwww..ultimateungulateultimateungulate..comcom Order Perissodactyla From Greek : perissos = strange, of numbers odd daktulos = a finger or toe == OddOdd-- ToeToe ungulatesungulates ((สสัตวัตวกกีบคีบคี่)ี่) -Enlarged central digit carries most of body weight (mesaxonic) -Canine teeth reduced or absent -Simple stomachs with large caecum -Hind gut fermentation Order Perissodactyla Order Artiodactyla Greek : artios = complete, of numbers even daktulos = a finger or toe == EvenEven-- ToeToe ungulatesungulates ((สสัตวัตวกกีบคีบคู)ู) - Two enlarged digits share the weight of the body about equally (paraxonic) - Upper incisors and canines lost or reduced - Rumination - Males (and sometimes females) have weaponry : tusks, antler, horns Order Artiodactyla Herbivore Taxonomy Order Suborder Family Proboscideae Elephantidae Elephants Equidae Equines, Perissodactyla Tapiridae (Odd-Toe ungulates) Tapir, Rhinocerotidae Rhinoceroses Swines, Suidae Artiodactyla
    [Show full text]
  • Sequence Variation of Necdin Gene in Bovidae Sunday O
    Peters et al. Journal of Animal Science and Technology (2018) 60:32 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40781-018-0191-7 RESEARCH Open Access Sequence variation of necdin gene in Bovidae Sunday O. Peters1*†, Marcos De Donato2*†, Tanveer Hussain3, Hectorina Rodulfo2, Masroor E. Babar3 and Ikhide G. Imumorin4,5 Abstract Background: Necdin (NDN), a member of the melanoma antigen family showing imprinted pattern of expression, has been implicated as causing Prader-Willi symptoms, and known to participate in cellular growth, cellular migration and differentiation. The region where NDN is located has been associated to QTLs affecting reproduction and early growth in cattle, but location and functional analysis of the molecular mechanisms have not been established. Methods: Herewereportthesequencevariationoftheentirecodingsequencefrom72samplesofcattle, yak, buffalo, goat and sheep, and discuss its variation in Bovidae. Median-joining network analysis was used to analyze the variation found in the species. Synonymous and non-synonymous substitution rates were determined for the analysis of all the polymorphic sites. Phylogenetic analysis were carried out among the species of Bovidae to reconstruct their relationships. Results: From the phylogenetic analysis with the consensus sequences of the studied Bovidae species, we found that only 11 of the 26 nucleotide changes that differentiate them produced amino acid changes. All the SNPs found in the cattle breeds were novel and showed similar percentages of nucleotides with non-synonymous substitutions at the N- terminal, MHD and C-terminal (12.3, 12.8 and 12.5%, respectively), and were much higher than the percentage of synonymous substitutions (2.5, 2.6 and 4.9%, respectively). Three mutations in cattle and one in sheep, detected in heterozygous individuals were predicted to be deleterious.
    [Show full text]
  • Issn: 2250-0588 Fossil Mammals
    IJREISS Volume 2, Issue 8 (August 2012) ISSN: 2250-0588 FOSSIL MAMMALS (RHINOCEROTIDS, GIRAFFIDS, BOVIDS) FROM THE MIOCENE ROCKS OF DHOK BUN AMEER KHATOON, DISTRICT CHAKWAL, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN 1Khizar Samiullah* 1Muhammad Akhtar, 2Muhammad A. Khan and 3Abdul Ghaffar 1Zoology department, Quaid-e-Azam campus, Punjab University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan 2Zoology Department, GC University, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan 3Department of Meteorology, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Islamabad ABSTRACT Fossil site Dhok Bun Ameer Khatoon (32o 47' 26.4" N, 72° 55' 35.7" E) yielded a significant amount of mammalian assemblage including two families of even-toed fossil mammal (Giraffidae, and Bovidae) and one family of odd-toed (Rhinocerotidae) of the Late Miocene (Samiullah, 2011). This newly discovered site has well exposed Chinji and Nagri formation and has dated approximately 14.2-9.5 Ma. This age agrees with the divergence of different mammalian genera. Sedimentological evidence of the site supports that this is deposited in locustrine or fluvial environment, as Chinji formation is composed primarily of mud-stone while the Nagri formation is sand dominated. Palaeoenvironmental data indicates that Miocene climate of Pakistan was probably be monsoonal as there is now a days. Mostly the genera recovered from this site resemble with the overlying younger Dhok Pathan formation of the Siwaliks while the size variation in dentition is taxonomically important for vertebrate evolutionary point of view and this is the main reason to conduct this study at this specific site to add additional information in the field of Palaeontology. A detailed study of fossils mammals found in Miocene rocks exposed at Dhok Bun Ameer Khatoon was carried out.
    [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]
  • DNA Systematics and Evolution of the Artiodactyl Family Bovidae (Phylogeny/Ntdna Sequences/Rrna Genes/Rapid Cladogenesis) MARC W
    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 89, pp. 3972-3976, May 1992 Evolution DNA systematics and evolution of the artiodactyl family Bovidae (phylogeny/ntDNA sequences/rRNA genes/rapid cladogenesis) MARC W. ALLARD, MICHAEL M. MIYAMOTO, LIANNA JARECKI, FRED KRAuS, AND MICHELE R. TENNANT Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-2009 Communicated by Charles G. Sibley, January 17, 1992 (received for review October 29, 1991) ABSTRACT Nine additional sequences from representa- outgroup representatives of the infraorder Pecora (8, 9). The tives ofdierent tribes ofthefamily Bovidae were combined with time of divergence for the bovid tribes [estimates ranging six published artiodactyl sequences to provide orthologous from 7 to 20 MA (7)] suggests that relationships within the mtDNA for investigation ofbovid phylogeny and evolution. Each family should be resolvable with this gene complex, which species was represented by a homologous 2.7-kilobase-pair evolves at a rate suitable for this analysis (10). Of the 14 stretch ofmtDNA for the complete 12S and 16S rRNA genes and commonly recognized tribes of Bovidae, only 3 (Ovibovini, three adjacent tRNA genes. These data, whencompared toother Peleini, and Rupicaprini) were not available for this sequenc- results, provided evidence for a monophyletic Bovidae and for ing study; their later inclusion will provide tests of the two clades within the family: one including the tribes Bosela- hypotheses developed herein. phini, Bovini, and Tragelaphini and another for an Antilo- pini/Neotragini grouping. AU other intrafamilial relationships MATERIALS AND METHODS were only weakly supported. These sequence comparisons sug- mtDNA sequences were collected from nine tribal represen- gest that most bovid tribes originated early in the Miocene with tatives including Aepyceros melampus (AME), Boselaphus all extant lineages present by -16-17 million years ago.
    [Show full text]
  • The Taxon with a Partially Persevered Ramus
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE Published in 6ZLVV-RXUQDORI*HRVFLHQFHV 6XSSO provided by RERO DOC Digital Library which should be cited to refer to this work. Iberomeryx minor (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) from the Early Oligocene of Soulce (Canton Jura, NW Switzerland): systematics and palaeodiet Bastien Mennecart • Damien Becker • Jean-Pierre Berger Abstract The primitive ruminant genus Iberomeryx is 31 ruminant genera (10 fossil and 21 extant) and 40 species poorly documented, as it is essentially only known from (11 fossil and 29 extant), this study attempts a preliminary rare occurrences of dental remains. Therefore, the phy- discussion of the phylogeny and the diet of the species logeny and palaeobiology of Iberomeryx remain rather I. minor. The results permit to differentiate Pecora and enigmatic. Only two species have been described: the type Tragulina on the first principal component axis (first Rel- species I. parvus from the Benara locality in Georgia, and ative warp) on behalf of the length of the diastema c/cheek the Western European species I. minor reported from teeth, the length of the premolars and the angular process. France, Spain, and Switzerland. Iberomeryx savagei from The mandible shape of I. minor is similar to those of the India has recently been placed in the new genus Nala- primitive Tragulina, but it differs somewhat from those of meryx. All these localities are dated to the Rupelian and the extant Tragulidae, the only extant family in the correspond mainly to MP23 (European mammal reference Tragulina. This difference is essentially due to a stockier level).
    [Show full text]
  • Species Diversity in the Hypertragulid (Mammalia: Artiodactyla) Population of the John Day Basin, Oregon
    Portland State University PDXScholar University Honors Theses University Honors College 5-24-2019 Species Diversity in the Hypertragulid (Mammalia: Artiodactyla) Population of the John Day Basin, Oregon Lana K. Jewell Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/honorstheses Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Jewell, Lana K., "Species Diversity in the Hypertragulid (Mammalia: Artiodactyla) Population of the John Day Basin, Oregon" (2019). University Honors Theses. Paper 718. https://doi.org/10.15760/honors.735 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in University Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. 1 Species Diversity in the Hypertragulid (Mammalia: Artiodactyla) Population of the John Day Basin, Oregon by Lana Jewell An undergraduate honors thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in University Honors and Geology Thesis Advisers: Dr. Nicholas Famoso and Dr. Ashley Streig Portland State University 2019 2 ABSTRACT Members of the family Hypertragulidae (order Artiodactyla, class Mammalia) are the most abundant mammals in the Turtle Cove Member (Oligocene) of the John Day Formation, located in central and eastern Oregon, and make up about 40% of the preserved specimens of the John Day Basin. Three species and two separate genera are described in the area, but any preexisting research lacks statistical support for this level of variation. Species designation among extinct artiodactyls is predominantly based on morphological and morphometric examination of dentition, but studies conducted with extant artiodactyls have revealed that this may not be a reliable diagnostic technique.
    [Show full text]
  • A Revision of the Fossil Mandible from Rusce in the Pčinja Basin (Late Eocene, Southeastern Serbia)
    Palaeontologia Electronica palaeo-electronica.org New data on the earliest European ruminant (Mammalia, Artiodactyla): A revision of the fossil mandible from Rusce in the Pčinja basin (late Eocene, Southeastern Serbia) Bastien Mennecart, Predrag Radović, and Zoran Marković ABSTRACT A fragmented right branch of a ruminant mandible from Rusce (Pčinja basin, Ser- bia) was originally published in the first half the twentieth century as Micromeryx flourensianus, a small ruminant common in the middle Miocene of Europe. Based on this determination, sedimentary filling of the Pčinja basin was considered to be of late Miocene age. However, later paleobotanical and micromammalian studies pointed to a late Eocene age for these deposits. The redescription and discussion of the ruminant fossil mandible from Rusce led to the conclusion that the specimen may belong to a small species of Bachitheriidae, probably to Bachitherium thraciensis. This ruminant was originally only known from late Eocene strata in Bulgaria. The peculiar late Eocene faunal composition from the Balkans (e.g., rodents, perissodactyls, and ruminants) confirms that the “Balkanian High” was a distinct paleobiogeographical province from that of Western Europe until the Bachitherium dispersal event, which occurred during the early Oligocene ca. 31 Mya. Bastien Mennecart. Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Burgring 7, 1010 Wien, Austria; Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, Augustinergasse 2, 4001 Basel, Switzerland. [email protected] Predrag Radović. Curator, National Museum Kraljevo, Trg Svetog Save 2, 36000, Kraljevo, Serbia. [email protected] Zoran Marković. Museum adviser at Department of Paleontology, Natural History Museum, Njegoševa 51, Belgrade, Serbia. [email protected] Keywords: Bachitherium; paleobiogeography; Balkans; Grande-Coupure; Bachitherium dispersal event Submission: 30 April 2018 Acceptance: 18 October 2018 Mennecart, Bastien, Radović, Predrag, and Marković, Zoran.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Full Article in PDF Format
    New stem giraffoid ruminants from the early and middle Miocene of Namibia Jorge MORALES Departamento de Paleobiologia, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutierrez Abascal 2, E-28006, Madrid (Spain) Dolores SORIA Departamento de Paleobiologia, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutierrez Abascal 2, E-28006, Madrid (Spain) Martin PICKFORD Chaire de Paléoanthropologie et de Préhistoire, Collège de France, 11 place Marcelin-Berthelot, F-75005, Paris (France) Laboratoire de Paléontologie, UMR 8569 du CNRS, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 8 rue de Button, F-75231 Paris cedex 05 (France) Morales J., Soria D. & Pickford M. 1999. — New stem giraffoid ruminants from the early and middle Miocene of Namibia. Geodiversitas (21)2: 229-253. ABSTRACT At the early and middle Miocene localities of the Sperrgebiet, Namibia, new material of climacoceratid tuminants have been collected recently. From Elisabethfeld we describe new material belonging to Propalaeoryx austroafri- canus Stromer, 1926, together with a new genus and species of climacocera­ tid Sperrgebietomeryx wardi n. gen., n. sp., a species without frontal appendages close to Propalaeoryx and to primitive early Miocene European ruminants such as Andegameryx. From the locality of Arrisdrift, we define another new genus and species of climacoceratid with frontal appendages, KEYWORDS Ruminantia, Orangemeryx bendey n. gen., n. sp., characterized by its complex tined frontal Giraffoidea, apophyses. Comparison of the dentition and postcranial skeleton of this Climacoceratidae, genus and those of Sperrgebietomeryx suggests a close phylogenetic relation­ Miocene, Namibia. ships between them. 1999 • 21 (2) 229 Morales J., Soria D. & Pickford M. RESUME Nouveaux ruminants giraffoïdes du Miocène ancien et moyen de Namibie.
    [Show full text]
  • Molecular Systematics: Perfect Sines of Evolutionary History? Michael M
    R816 Dispatch Molecular systematics: Perfect SINEs of evolutionary history? Michael M. Miyamoto Short interspersed repetitive elements — SINEs — are species carrying it form a ‘monophyletic’ group, and in being championed as near-perfect phylogenetic that sense the SINE is an example of what is known in the characters; they have recently been used with notable trade as a shared derived character or ‘synapomorphy’: in success to resolve some phylogenetic conundrums, but other words, the insertion event is assumed to have they do have certain limitations that restrict their use as occurred in the stem lineage from which the various ‘perfect’ characters for molecular systematics. species are descended. Address: Department of Zoology, P.O. Box 118525, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-8525, USA. The use of SINE insertions as phylogenetic markers E-mail: [email protected] starts with the identification and characterization of new retroposons from a few target species of the study group Current Biology 1999, 9:R816–R819 [4,6]. Locus-specific primers that match the flanking 0960-9822/99/$ – see front matter regions of these elements are then designed for PCR © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. amplification of the corresponding orthologous regions from the other species. The amplified products of the The ultimate goal of phylogenetic systematics is to different species are resolved by gel electrophoresis, with provide an accurate estimate of the true history of life [1]. long and short fragments corresponding
    [Show full text]