Early Miocene Hippopotamids (Cetartiodactyla) Constrain the Phylogenetic and Spatiotemporal Settings of Hippopotamid Origin

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Early Miocene Hippopotamids (Cetartiodactyla) Constrain the Phylogenetic and Spatiotemporal Settings of Hippopotamid Origin Early Miocene hippopotamids (Cetartiodactyla) constrain the phylogenetic and spatiotemporal settings of hippopotamid origin Maeva Orliaca,1, Jean-Renaud Boisserieb,c, Laura MacLatchyd, and Fabrice Lihoreaua aInstitut des Sciences de l’Evolution, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5554, Université Montpellier 2, 34000 Montpellier, France; bCentre Français des Etudes Ethiopiennes/French Centre for Ethiopian Studies, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité de Service et de Recherche 3137, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; cInstitut International de Paléoprimatologie, Paléontologie Humaine: Evolution et Paléoenvironnements, Unité Mixte de Recherche 6046, Université de Poitiers, F-86022 Poitiers, France; and dDepartment of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 The affinities of the Hippopotamidae are at the core of the phy- remained unresolved in recent combined analyses of extinct and logeny of Cetartiodactyla (even-toed mammals: cetaceans, ru- extant data (ref. 9, figure 2; refs. 15 and 16). However, these and minants, camels, suoids, and hippos). Molecular phylogenies other recent large-scale analyses aiming at clarifying cetartio- support Cetacea as sister group of the Hippopotamidae, implying dactyl basal relationships (10, 11, 17–20) included none or only a long ghost lineage between the earliest cetaceans (∼53 Ma) and a limited subset of fossil “suiforms” classically and more con- the earliest hippopotamids (∼16 Ma). Morphological studies have troversially interpreted as hippopotamid stem groups and, in all proposed two different sister taxa for hippopotamids: suoids (no- cases, no fossil hippopotamids. Failure to resolve the evolution tably palaeochoerids) or anthracotheriids. Evaluating these phylo- that led to Hippopotamidae hinders our understanding of the genetic hypotheses requires substantiating the poorly known common ancestry between extant hippopotamids and cetaceans. early history of the Hippopotamidae. Here, we undertake an orig- In turn, this creates difficulties in resolving the earlier branching inal morphological phylogenetic analysis including several “sui- of Ruminantia, Suoidea, and Tylopoda. A better understanding form” families and previously unexamined early Miocene taxa to of the evolutionary history of Hippopotamidae is thus a critical test previous conflicting hypotheses. According to our results, step in clarifying the relationships within Cetartiodactyla and is Morotochoerus ugandensis and Kulutherium rusingensis, until addressed in this paper. EVOLUTION now regarded as the sole African palaeochoerid and the sole Afri- The origin of the Hippopotamidae has been a subject of inquiries can bunodont anthracotheriid, respectively, are unambiguously for more than a century (see reviews in refs. 21–23), and identifying included within the Hippopotamidae. They are the earliest known the stem group of these mammals is still a challenging issue for hippopotamids and set the family fossil record back to the early biologists (22, 23). A significant hippopotamid fossil record is thus Miocene (∼21 Ma). The analysis reveals that hippopotamids dis- far found only for the Hippopotaminae (large hippopotamids dis- played an unsuspected taxonomic and body size diversity and re- playing a very derived morphology), which seem to appear abruptly mained restricted to Africa during most of their history, until the in the late Miocene deposits of Africa, ∼7.5 Ma (24, 25). The fi latest Miocene. Our results also con rm the deep nesting of Hippo- identification of the Paleogene-early Neogene cetartiodactyl group fi potamidae within the paraphyletic Anthracotheriidae; this nding from which hippopotamines are derived is thus challenging. allows us to reconstruct the sequence of dental innovations that links The only other members of Hippopotamidae are represented advanced selenodont anthracotheriids to hippopotamids, previously in subfamily Kenyapotaminae by the genus Kenyapotamus Pick- a source of major disagreements on hippopotamid origins. The anal- ford, 1983, known on the basis of mostly isolated dental remains ysis demonstrates a close relationship between Eocene choeropo- fi from the middle and late Miocene of Kenya. This subfamily has tamids and anthracotheriids, a relationship that potentially lls a first appearance datum (FAD) at ∼16 Ma (26), which extends the evolutionary gap between earliest hippopotamids and ceta- the time range of Hippopotamidae into the middle Miocene. To ceans implied by molecular analyses. date, kenyapotamines have been recorded only in Africa, in va- rious Kenyan localities (26–31) and elsewhere in Africa (Tunisia, Africa | dental pattern | Hippopotamoidea | paleobiogeography ref. 32; Ethiopia, refs. 33 and 34). Their morphology and di- versity are now better understood (22). Recent phylogenetic he question of the immediate affinities of the Hippopot- analyses suggested that the Kenyapotaminae are the sister taxon Tamidae is central to a major unresolved issue of mammalian of the Hippopotaminae and that the Hippopotamidae are mono- evolution: the phylogeny of the Cetartiodactyla and the terrestrial phyletic as well as deeply nested within the extinct, paraphyletic origins of the Cetacea. For many years there had been two sep- Anthracotheriidae (22, 35). However, a morphological gap re- arate problems: the ancestry of whales and whether hippopota- mains between these earliest known hippopotamids and their muses were related to pigs or anthracotheres. The arrival of hypothesized antracotheriid stem group (22). cladistics, molecular studies, and large-scale computer analyses Despite this step forward, there is still no consensus on the led to the surprising assertion that whales were either the sister earliest history of the hippopotamids. Phylogenies are divided group of artiodactyls or nested within them. This brought together between two mutually exclusive candidates for a hippopotamid both the old problems and overshadowed the second. Nowadays stem group: Anthracotheriidae (e.g., ref. 16) and Suoidea (e.g., molecular analyses of extant species suggest that Cetacea are the ref. 9, figure 5; and ref. 11). Among the latter, palaeochoerids also sister group of Hippopotamidae (e.g., refs. 1–8) whereas a close Hippopotamidae/Suoidea relationship is suggested by morpho- fi logical data from fossil and extant species (e.g., ref. 9, gure 5; Author contributions: M.O., J.-R.B., L.M., and F.L. designed research; M.O., J.-R.B., and F.L. refs. 10 and 11). Use of enlarged data sets mainly drawn from performed research; M.O., J.-R.B., and F.L. analyzed data; and M.O., J.-R.B., L.M., and F.L. molecular sources support a Cetacea + Hippopotamidae clade wrote the paper. (Cetancodonta), but produce conflicting results for the placement The authors declare no conflict of interest. of Suoidea (5, 12–14). *This Direct Submission article had a prearranged editor. The consideration of fossil data has seemed to introduce more 1To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: [email protected]. confusion, because the relationships between major cetartioda- This article contains supporting information online at www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10. ctyl clades (Cetancodonta, Ruminantia, Suoidea, and Tylopoda) 1073/pnas.1001373107/-/DCSupplemental. www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1001373107 PNAS Early Edition | 1of6 Downloaded by guest on September 26, 2021 known as “Old World peccaries” (36), have been favored in some Suina (i.e., entelodonts + suoids; clade S, Fig. 2A) and a clade contributions (23, 29). The morphological gap between the ear- gathering Choeropotamus, the paraphyletic anthracotheriids and liest known hippopotamids and their potential sister taxon exists the Hippopotamidae, in agreement with Hippopotamoidea sensu either because relevant remains are not yet documented in the (43) (clade H, Figs. 2A and 3). The latter clade is defined by known fossil record or because earlier hippopotamid remains presence of a mesostyle on upper molars (311; RI = 1.00), con- have been collected, but not recognized as such. nection between pre- and postcristae of upper molar labial cusps In this study we addressed the challenging question of the im- with cingular structure (321; RI = 1.00), paraconule of upper mediate affinities of hippopotamids by reexamining Morotochoerus molars independent with its own crest pattern (281; RI = 0.75), ugandensis Pickford, 1998 (36) (Fig. 1 A–D)andKulutherium ken- postparacrista and premetacrista do not form a straight line (331; yensis Pickford, 2007 (Fig. 1F), two bunodont early Miocene eastern RI = 0.70), p4 with flat lingual wall and convex buccal wall (511; Africa suiforms known through partial dentitions. M. ugandensis RI = 0.66), P4 labial orientation of the preparacrista (201;RI= (Moroto, Uganda, dated >20.6 Ma) (37) was initially referred to as 0.75), and protocone of the P4 crescentic (231; RI = 0.57). The a small anthracotheriid (38), later to the schizochoerine tayassuids tree basal relationships remain unresolved with a major polytomy (36), and finally assigned to the “Palaeochoeridae,” as their only involving the raoellid Khirtharia, Cebochoerus, the Suina, and the African representative (ref. 39 and ref. 40, table 2). This makes this (Choeropotamus, Hippopotamoidea) clade. Khirtharia branches material crucial in testing previous hypotheses linking the Hippo- with (Choeropotamus, Hippopotamoidea) or at the base of potamidae to palaeochoerids. Surprisingly, it has never been dis- a (Suina, (Choeropotamus, Hippopotamoidea)) clade. Cebo- cussed as such by proponents of
Recommended publications
  • Chapter 30. Latest Oligocene Through Early Miocene Isotopic Stratigraphy
    Shackleton, N.J., Curry, W.B., Richter, C., and Bralower, T.J. (Eds.), 1997 Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, Vol. 154 30. LATEST OLIGOCENE THROUGH EARLY MIOCENE ISOTOPIC STRATIGRAPHY AND DEEP-WATER PALEOCEANOGRAPHY OF THE WESTERN EQUATORIAL ATLANTIC: SITES 926 AND 9291 B.P. Flower,2 J.C. Zachos,2 and E. Martin3 ABSTRACT Stable isotopic (d18O and d13C) and strontium isotopic (87Sr/86Sr) data generated from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Sites 926 and 929 on Ceara Rise provide a detailed chemostratigraphy for the latest Oligocene through early Miocene of the western Equatorial Atlantic. Oxygen isotopic data based on the benthic foraminifer Cibicidoides mundulus exhibit four distinct d18O excursions of more than 0.5ä, including event Mi1 near the Oligocene/Miocene boundary from 23.9 to 22.9 Ma and increases at about 21.5, 18 and 16.5 Ma, probably reßecting episodes of early Miocene Antarctic glaciation events (Mi1a, Mi1b, and Mi2). Carbon isotopic data exhibit well-known d13C increases near the Oligocene/Miocene boundary (~23.8 to 22.6 Ma) and near the early/middle Miocene boundary (~17.5 to 16 Ma). Strontium isotopic data reveal an unconformity in the Hole 926A sequence at about 304 meters below sea ßoor (mbsf); no such unconformity is observed at Site 929. The age of the unconfor- mity is estimated as 17.9 to 16.3 Ma based on a magnetostratigraphic calibration of the 87Sr/86Sr seawater curve, and as 17.4 to 15.8 Ma based on a biostratigraphic calibration. Shipboard biostratigraphic data are more consistent with the biostratigraphic calibration.
    [Show full text]
  • The World at the Time of Messel: Conference Volume
    T. Lehmann & S.F.K. Schaal (eds) The World at the Time of Messel - Conference Volume Time at the The World The World at the Time of Messel: Puzzles in Palaeobiology, Palaeoenvironment and the History of Early Primates 22nd International Senckenberg Conference 2011 Frankfurt am Main, 15th - 19th November 2011 ISBN 978-3-929907-86-5 Conference Volume SENCKENBERG Gesellschaft für Naturforschung THOMAS LEHMANN & STEPHAN F.K. SCHAAL (eds) The World at the Time of Messel: Puzzles in Palaeobiology, Palaeoenvironment, and the History of Early Primates 22nd International Senckenberg Conference Frankfurt am Main, 15th – 19th November 2011 Conference Volume Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung IMPRINT The World at the Time of Messel: Puzzles in Palaeobiology, Palaeoenvironment, and the History of Early Primates 22nd International Senckenberg Conference 15th – 19th November 2011, Frankfurt am Main, Germany Conference Volume Publisher PROF. DR. DR. H.C. VOLKER MOSBRUGGER Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany Editors DR. THOMAS LEHMANN & DR. STEPHAN F.K. SCHAAL Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany [email protected]; [email protected] Language editors JOSEPH E.B. HOGAN & DR. KRISTER T. SMITH Layout JULIANE EBERHARDT & ANIKA VOGEL Cover Illustration EVELINE JUNQUEIRA Print Rhein-Main-Geschäftsdrucke, Hofheim-Wallau, Germany Citation LEHMANN, T. & SCHAAL, S.F.K. (eds) (2011). The World at the Time of Messel: Puzzles in Palaeobiology, Palaeoenvironment, and the History of Early Primates. 22nd International Senckenberg Conference. 15th – 19th November 2011, Frankfurt am Main. Conference Volume. Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Frankfurt am Main. pp. 203.
    [Show full text]
  • GEOL 204 the Fossil Record Spring 2020 Section 0109 Luke Buczynski, Eamon, Doolan, Emmy Hudak, and Shutian Wang
    ENTELODONT: The Hellacious Pigs of the Cenozoic GEOL 204 The Fossil Record Spring 2020 Section 0109 Luke Buczynski, Eamon, Doolan, Emmy Hudak, and Shutian Wang Entelodont Overview: From the family Entelodontidae, these omnivorous mammals had a wide geographic variety, as seen in image B. They first inhabited Mongolia then spread into Eurasia and North America, while in North America they preferred flood plains and woodlands. Entelodont were fairly aggressive and would fight with their own kind, using their strong jaws and large heads. They survived from the middle of Eocene to the middle of Miocene. Size and Diet: Skull Features: Figure D shows one of the largest Entelodont, Daedon, compared to an As seen on Figure C, the skull of the Entelodont is massive. They all 1.8 meter tall human, illustrating how immense they really were. contained large Neural Spines, most likely to hold up their huge head, Entelodont weighed from 150 kg on the small size, up to 900 kg (330 to which in turn created a hump. Entelodont contained a pretty small 2,000 pounds) and 1 to 2 meters in height. They had teeth that made them brain, but large olfactory lobes, giving them an acute sense of smell. capable of consuming meat, but the overall structure and wear on the the They held sturdy canines, long incisors, sharp serrated premolars, and suggest the consumption of plant matter as well. Although these large blunt square molars (a sign of omnivory), all of which were covered in a animals might not look it, their limbs were fully terrestrial and adept for very thick layer of enamel.
    [Show full text]
  • Miocene–Pliocene Planktonic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy of The
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE Journal of Palaeogeography provided by Elsevier - Publisher Connector 2012, 1(1): 43-56 DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1261.2012.00005 Biopalaeogeography and palaeoecology Miocene−Pliocene planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Pearl River Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea Liu Chunlian1,2,*, Huang Yi1, Wu Jie1, Qin Guoquan3, Yang Tingting1,2, Xia Lianze1, Zhang Suqing1 1. Department of Earth Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China 2. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources & Geological Processes, Guangzhou 510275, China 3. Nanhai East Company of China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Guangzhou 510240, China Abstract The present study deals with the planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Miocene–Pliocene sequence of three petroleum exploration wells (BY7-1-1, KP6-1-1 and KP9- 1-1) in the Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB). In general, the three wells contain a fairly well-preserved, abundant foraminiferal fauna. The proposed planktonic foraminiferal zonation follows the scheme updated by Wade et al. (2011). Nineteen planktonic foraminiferal zones have been recognized, 14 zones (zones M1–M14) for the Miocene and 5 zones (zones PL1–PL5) for the Pliocene. The zonation is correlated with previously published biostratigraphic subdivisions of the Neogene succession in the PRMB and with international foraminiferal zona- tions. The zonal boundaries are mostly defined by the last appearance datum of zonal taxa of planktonic foraminifera, which is more reliable than the FAD (first appearance datum) events for ditch cutting sampling. Changes in the coiling of Globorotalia menardii (s. l.) are also used to define the zonal boundaries, where no LADs (last appearance datum) are available.
    [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]
  • The Indication of Mid Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO) from Cibulakan Formation
    1 The Indication of Mid Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO) from Cibulakan Formation, 2 Bogor Basin, Indonesia 3 R. Kapid1), W.D. Santoso1), B. Ikhsan1), M.A. Jambak2), and D.E. Irawan1)* 4 1) Department of Geology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia. 5 2) Department of Geology, Trisakti University, Indonesia 6 *Correspondence author: Dasapta Erwin Irawan ([email protected] cc 7 [email protected]) 8 Abstract 9 Nannoplankton analyses have been proven to identify rapid climate shifts in sedimentary records. Here, 10 we took 58 samples from Early Miocene to Late Miocene sediments of Cibulakan Formation (Bogor 11 Basin, Indonesia), to evaluate climatic benchmarks for Middle Miocene Climate Optimum in the tropical 12 region. The Helicosphaera carteri and Umbilicosphaera jafari were counted to identify the salinity signal. 13 We identify seven-biostratigraphy zones of Cibulakan Fm, indicating the change of seawater temperature 14 and salinity. We identify that warmer temperature in Middle Miocene as the effect of MMCO. The 15 temperature increased until Late Miocene triggered by global increasing temperature at Pacific Ocean and 16 widely distributed flow of terrestrial water at North West Java Basin. 17 Keywords: Mid Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO), nannoplankton, temperature, salinity, Cibulakan 18 Formation 19 20 Introduction 21 Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO) was a global climatic event during Middle Miocene featuring 22 increasing global temperature (You et al., 2009; Hansen et al., 2003). The CO2 content in the atmosphere 1 23 increased with the increasing temperature during MMCO period. The impact of MMCO was widely 24 distributed and associated with 60C of temperature warming in the mid latitude region (Flower and 25 Kennet, 1994).
    [Show full text]
  • Early Miocene Asian Monsoon
    Clim. Past Discuss., 4, 535–584, 2008 www.clim-past-discuss.net/4/535/2008/ Climate of the Past CPD © Author(s) 2008. This work is distributed under Discussions 4, 535–584, 2008 the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Climate of the Past Discussions is the access reviewed discussion forum of Climate of the Past Early Miocene Asian monsoon Z. T. Guo et al. A major reorganization of Asian climate regime by the early Miocene Title Page Abstract Introduction Z. T. Guo1, B. Sun1,2, Z. S. Zhang1,3, S. Z. Peng1, G. Q. Xiao4, J. Y. Ge4, Conclusions References Q. Z. Hao1, Y. S. Qiao1, M. Y. Liang1, J. F. Liu1, Q. Z. Yin1, and J. J. Wei1 Tables Figures 1Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 9825, 100029 Beijing, China J I 2Shandong Institute and Laboratory of Geological Sciences, 250013 Jinan, China 3Nansen-Zhu International Research Center, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese J I Academy of Sciences, 100029 Beijing, China Back Close 4State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 17, 710075 Xian, China Full Screen / Esc Received: 3 April 2008 – Accepted: 7 April 2008 – Published: 8 May 2008 Printer-friendly Version Correspondence to: Z. T. Guo ([email protected]) Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. Interactive Discussion 535 Abstract CPD The global climate system has experienced a series of drastic changes during the Cenozoic. These include the climate transformation in Asia, from a zonal pattern to a 4, 535–584, 2008 monsoon-dominant pattern, the disappearance of subtropical aridity related to a plan- 5 etary circulation system and the onset of inland deserts in central Asia.
    [Show full text]
  • Constraining Neogene Temperature and Precipitation Histories in The
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Dissertations & Theses in Earth and Atmospheric Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Sciences Spring 4-21-2016 Constraining Neogene temperature and precipitation histories in the Central Great Plains using the fossil record of Alligator Evan Whiting University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geoscidiss Part of the Climate Commons, Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Paleobiology Commons, and the Paleontology Commons Whiting, Evan, "Constraining Neogene temperature and precipitation histories in the Central Great Plains using the fossil record of Alligator" (2016). Dissertations & Theses in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. 79. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geoscidiss/79 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 Dissertations & Theses in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. CONSTRAINING NEOGENE TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION HISTORIES IN THE CENTRAL GREAT PLAINS USING THE FOSSIL RECORD OF ALLIGATOR by Evan T. Whiting A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science Major: Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Under the Supervision of Professor Sherilyn C. Fritz Lincoln, Nebraska April, 2016 i CONSTRAINING NEOGENE TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION HISTORIES IN THE CENTRAL GREAT PLAINS USING THE FOSSIL RECORD OF ALLIGATOR Evan Tyler Whiting, M.S. University of Nebraska, 2016 Advisor: Sherilyn C. Fritz Most amphibians and reptiles (excluding birds) are poikilothermic; their internal body temperature varies with that of their external environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Abstract Volume 9Th Swiss Geoscience Meeting Zurich, 11Th – 13Th November 2011
    Abstract Volume 9th Swiss Geoscience Meeting Zurich, 11th – 13th November 2011 14. Traces of life on planet Earth: A tribute to the late Professor Lukas Hottinger 306 14. Traces of life on planet Earth: A tribute to the late Professor Lukas Hottinger Lionel Cavin, Michael Hautmann “Schweizerische Paläontologische Gesellschaft” (SPG/SPS) “Kommission der Schweizerischen Paläontologischen Abhandlungen” (KSPA) TALKS: Symposium 14: Traces of life on planet Earth Symposium 14: Traces 14.1 Geiger, M., Wilson, L. A. B., Costeur, L., Scheyer, T. M., Aguilera, O. A., Sánchez-Villagra, M. R.: Giant rodents from the northern Neotropics - taxonomic, phylogenetic and developmental aspects of their evolution within the caviomorph radiation 14.2 Hiard F., Mennecart B., Berger J.-P.: Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Swiss Molasse Basin (Oligocene and Early Miocene) on the basis of postcranial remains of ruminants (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) 14.3 Hofmann R., Hautmann M., Bucher H.: Ecological structure and taxa distribution in near shore habitats of the Virgin Formation (south-western Utah): Implications for the Early Triassic recovery 14.4 Kolb, C.: Growth patterns deduced from bone histology of the dwarfed island deer Candiacervus from the Late Pleistocene of Crete 14.5 Mary Y., Knappertsbusch M.: Biogeographic morphological investigation of menardiform globorotalids in a time slice at 3.2 My (Mid-Pliocene) 14.6 Meister P.H.: Was the Triassic a plumeworld? 14.7 Mennecart B.: Was Europe an evolutionary DEAD END? Case of the Oligocene-Early Miocene
    [Show full text]
  • Structural Evolution of the Northernmost Andes, Colombia
    Structural Evolution of the Northernmost Andes, Colombia GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 846 Prepared in coopeTation ·with the lnstituto Nacional de Investigaciones Geologico-MineTas under the auspices of the Government of Colombia and the Agency for International Development) United States DepaTtment of State Structural Evolution of the Northernmost Andes, Colombia By EARL M. IRVING GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 846 Prepared in cooperation ·with the lnstituto Nacional de Investigaciones Geologico-Min eras under the auspices of the Government of Colombia and the Agency for International Development) United States Department of State An interpretation of the geologic history of a complex mountain system UNITED STATES GOVERNlVIENT PRINTING OFFICE, vVASHINGTON 1975 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY V. E. McKelvey, Director Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Irving, Earl Montgomery, 1911- Structural evolution of the northernmost Andes, Columbia. (Geological Survey professional paper ; 846) Bibliography: p Includes index. Supt. of Docs. no.: I 19.16:846 1. Geology-Colombia. 2. Geosynclines----Colombia. I. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Geologico­ Mineras.. II. Title. III. Series: United States. Geological Survey. Professional paper ; 846. QE239.175 558.61 74-600149 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402- Price $1.30 (paper cover) Stock Number 2401-02553 CONTENTS Page Pasre Abstract ----------------------------------------
    [Show full text]
  • A Brief Geologic History of Volusia County, Florida
    Prepared in cooperation with Volusia County A Brief Geologic History of Volusia County, Florida Volusia County is in a unique and beautiful setting (fig. 1). This Florida landscape is characterized by low coastal plains bordered by upland areas of sandy ridges and Volusia many lakes. Beautiful streams and springs abound within the vicinity. Underneath the County land surface is a deep layer of limestone rocks that stores fresh, clean water used to serve drinking and other needs. However, the landscape and the subsurface rocks have not always been as they appear today. These features are the result of environmental forces and processes that began millions of years ago and are still ongoing. This fact sheet provides a brief geologic history of the Earth, Florida, and Volusia County, with an emphasis on explaining why the Volusia County landscape and geologic structure exists as it does today. Figure 1. Florida and Volusia County. Figure 1. Florida and Volusia County. Continental Drift This theory starts with the introduction of the Earth’s crust from a planet-wide sea of molten lava and includes the initial formation and subsequent break up of two ancient super- continents. The first ancient supercontinent was called Gondwana. It broke apart and, eventually, its pieces came back together to form the second ancient supercontinent of Pangea, which contained all of the Earth’s present continents (Kious and Tilling, 2002). During this period that lasted from the beginning of the Earth until about 200 million years ago, the very foundation of Florida was formed that is often referred to Geologic Theories as the basement.
    [Show full text]
  • A Revision of the Entelodontidae
    MEMOIRS OF THE CARNEGIE MUSEUM. VOL. IV. NO. 3. A REVISION OF THE ENTELODONTIDyE.' By O. A. Peterson. Introductory Remarks. 227-242)- Since A. Aymard (1, pp. and S. A. Pomel (73, p. 307 ; 74, p. 1083) described the genus Entclodon from the Tertiary deposits of France, much material has been found, which represents this unique family of mammals, especially in the Oligoceneand Miocene formations of the North American Tertiary. The object of the present Memoir is first to give a systematic review of the known genera and species of this family ; and secondly to describe and illustrate in detail the type specimen of Dinohyus hoUandi, which was discovered in the Agate Spring Fossil (Quarries, Sioux County, Nebraska, by the Carnegie Museum Expedition of 1 905, and briefly described in Science (78, pp. 211-212) and the Annals of the Carnegie Museum (81, pp. 49-51). At the very outset of his work the writer became fully aware of the fact that generic and specific determinations in this family have sometimes been based on rather inadequate types, which present few and unsatisfactory characters. Frag- 'Pomel's (lesoription (73, 74) of Elotherium did probably appear before that of Aymard on Fnlelodon, but, iiias- luuch as the type of the former was rather inadequate, no illustrations were published, and the type has been since lost (see page 43), the present writer is of the opinion that the latter name should be used, as both text and figures are clear. ' For the references in parentheses, see the Bibliography appended. ( Publislied May, 1909.) 41 42 MEMOIRS OF THE CARNEGIE MUSEUM mentary types, which very often are most exasperating to the student of paleontol- ogy, cannot be regarded as finally determining genera and species, and in the pres- ent case we must still await the slow process of discovery before a number of questions can be satisfactorily determined.
    [Show full text]