DOCSLIB.ORG

Brachypotherium Minor N. Sp., and Other Rhinocerotidae from the Early Miocene of Buluk, Northern Kenya

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Brachypotherium Minor N. Sp., and Other Rhinocerotidae from the Early Miocene of Buluk, Northern Kenya Brachypotherium minor n. sp., and other Rhinocerotidae from the Early Miocene of Buluk, Northern Kenya Denis GERAADS CNRS UPR2147, 44 rue de l’Amiral Mouchez, F-75014 Paris (France) [email protected] Ellen MILLER Wake Forest University, Department of Anthropology, Winston Salem, NC 27106 (USA) [email protected] Geraads D. & Miller E. 2013. — Brachypotherium minor n. sp., and other Rhinocerotidae from the Early Miocene of Buluk, Northern Kenya. Geodiversitas 35 (2): 359-375. http://dx.doi. org/10.5252/g2013n2a5 ABSTRACT A new species of Rhinocerotidae, Brachypotherium minor n. sp., from the Early Miocene of Buluk, northern Kenya, is described. The new species shares with other members of the genus large sexually dimorphic incisors, flattened buc- cal walls on its molars, and a low astragalus, but differs from other species of Brachypotherium Roger, 1904 in its small size, placement of the orbit, having KEY WORDS Mammalia, widely separated temporal lines, and more simple molar crown morphology. Perissodactyla, A comparison of the new species with other brachypotheres suggests that the Rhinocerotidae, new species may be present at a small number of other sites, and that the Early Miocene, Kenya, brachypothere group may contain more than one African lineage, adding to new species. our understanding of the diversity of African rhinoceroses. RÉSUMÉ Brachypotherium minor n. sp., et autres Rhinocerotidae du Miocène inférieur de Buluk, nord du Kenya. Nous décrivons une nouvelle espèce de Rhinocerotidae, Brachypotherium minor n. sp., du Miocène inférieur de Buluk, nord du Kenya. Cette nouvelle espèce partage avec les autres formes du genre de grandes incisives à dimorphisme sexuel marqué, des murailles buccales des molaires aplaties, et un astragale bas, mais diffère des autres espèces de Brachypotherium Roger, 1904 par sa petite MOTS CLÉS Mammalia, taille, la position de l’orbite, ses lignes temporales largement séparées, et une Perissodactyla, morphologie dentaire plus simple. La comparaison de cette nouvelle espèce avec Rhinocerotidae, d’autres brachypothères suggère qu’elle pourrait être présente dans quelques Miocène inférieur, Kenya, autres sites, et que ce groupe pourrait comprendre plus d’une lignée africaine, espèce nouvelle. accroissant encore la diversité connue des rhinocéros africains. GEODIVERSITAS • 2013 • 35 (2) © Publications Scientifiques du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris. www.geodiversitas.com 359 Geraads D. & Miller E. INTRODUCTION of the whole collection housed in the National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, is provided here. Buluk is located in a remote part of northern Kenya (Fig. 1). Fossiliferous deposits at Buluk are part of the Buluk Member, Bakate Formation; and the TERMINOLOGY Buluk Member is composed of claystones with coarse sandstone and conglomerate channel fill. The names of the various components of rhino Fossils are retrieved from the channel deposits. cheek-teeth follow Geraads (2010: fig. 34.1). In A potassium/argon (K/Ar) date for a layer just the descriptions, the tooth-rows are supposed to above the fossiliferous deposits gives an age for be horizontal. Upper teeth are in uppercase, lower the Buluk fauna of < c. 17 Ma (McDougall & teeth in lowercase. All measurements are in mm. Watkins 1985). The occurrence of fossil mammals at Buluk was ABBREVIATIONS first noted in 1974 and the geochronology was Anatomy reported in 1985 (McDougall & Watkins 1985). APD antero-posterior dimension; Also in 1985, R. Leakey and A. Walker announced L length; TD transverse dimension; the recovery of a sizable collection of early Miocene W width. mammals (c. 20 species in 17 genera; see Leakey & Walker 1985). This material included remains of a Institutions hominoid, as well as 16 specimens of a catarrhine HLMD Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt; monkey which were described by M. Leakey in KNM National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi; NHML Natural History Museum, London; the same year (Leakey 1985). Owing largely to the NME National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa; remoteness of the locality, no fossil collecting was UCBL Université Claude Bernard, Lyon; then done at Buluk for almost thirty years, until work in the area was re-initiated beginning in 2004 Collections (prefix for fossils) (E. Miller and colleagues). DIN Dinotherien-Sanden, Germany; Because of the recovery of fossil primates, Buluk LT Lothagam; MI Mwiti, Kajong; has been well known as an important site for paleo- NL Nabwal; anthropology (Leakey 1985; Miller et al. 2009). In RU Rusinga; addition, preliminary work on the paleoecology WS Buluk, also called West Stephanie. of Buluk contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of regional ecologies in the Rift Valley system (e.g., Miller & Wood 2010). This SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY research is important because habitat fragmenta- tion occurring during the Miocene, generated in Family RHINOCEROTIDAE Gray, 1821 part by the initial phases of East African rifting, may be at the root of later Miocene ape diversity. Genus Brachypotherium Roger, 1904 Information from Buluk helps document the transi- tion from an archaic to a modern African fauna by DIAGNOSIS. — Large rhinos with broad and low skull, contributing to a more complete understanding of short nasals, nasal horn(s) absent or small, orbit far forward, powerful anterior dentition and especially large I1s with a the important faunal turnover events of the Early short root, brachyodont cheek-teeth and short but broad Miocene. This includes the timing and extent of premolars. Upper and lower molars tend to have flattened contact between African and Eurasian faunas, as buccal walls and the latter have shallow ectoflexids. Gonial immigrant taxa, such as rhinocerotids, deployed area of the mandible expanded. Short massive terminal limb across the African landscape. segments, with a characteristically low talus. Three digits. The rhinoceroses from Buluk were briefly men- TYPE SPECIES. — Rhinoceros goldfussi Kaup, 1834 by tioned recently (Geraads 2010). A full description original designation. 360 GEODIVERSITAS • 2013 • 35 (2) Brachypotherium minor n. sp. from the Early Miocene of Buluk, Northern Kenya 32°E 34° 36° 38° Moghra Sahabi Jebel Zelten Ad Dabtiyah Buluk 4° Moruorot Mwiti UGANDA Lothagam Napak Loperot 2° Sinda Namurungule Ngorora KENYA Maboko 0° Fort Ternan Rusinga Nyakach Arrisdrift 100 km Langental -2° FIG. 1. — Location of the main Afro-Arabian sites with Brachypotherium Roger, 1904. Right: detail of Eastern Kenya and Western Uganda. Brachypotherium minor n. sp. DESCRIPTION Skull Brachypotherium sp. Geraads, 2010: 670. The holotype skull KNM WS-46072 (Fig. 2) is the HOLOTYPE. — KNM WS-46072, relatively complete most instructive specimen. It is not much crushed, skull, lacking the premaxillae and right cheek teeth, but is slightly affected by what White (2003) called but preserving the left P2−M3. Housed in the National “expanding matrix distortion” (EMD), i.e. the skull Museums of Kenya, Nairobi. consists of a mosaic of fragments that are not con- ETYMOLOGY. — In reference to its small size. tiguous, but are separated by intervening matrix, resulting in some inflation of the specimen and EXAMINED MATERIAL. — Except for the specimens men- increasing its apparent size. tioned below under “Rhinocerotidae gen. et sp. indet.”, we assign all the Rhinocerotidae material from Buluk Measurements (in mm): length from condyle to to this new species. front of P2 = 460 ; bizygomatic width 2 × 175- (width increased by EMD); maximum occipital TYPE HORIZON. — Buluk Member, Bakate Formation. width = c. 240; length from condyle to rear of M3 = TYPE LOCALITY. — Buluk, Northern Kenya, Early Mio- 250; bicondylar width = 112; length from tip of cene (c. 17 Ma), 4°15’N, 36°36’E. nasals to top of occipital = 520- (length increased by EMD). DIAGNOSIS . — A Brachypotherium of relatively small In lateral view, the top of the skull is slightly size. Skull short and broad, dorsal profile almost flat, temporal lines far apart, nasals not much shortened, concave from the top of the occipital to the ante- perhaps bearing (a) small terminal horn(s), orbit does not orbital area, where preservation is not very good, reach very far anteriorly. No sub-aural contact between and it is likely that the anterior part of this pro- postglenoid and post-tympanic processes. Upper teeth file, to the tip of the nasals, was approximately with poor development of accessory crests, protoloph straight. The occipital plane is distinctly inclined and metaloph of premolars directed transversely and of even thickness, protocone of molars not much con- forwards, so that the nuchal crest is more anterior stricted, antecrochet moderate. Upper I1 and lower i2 than the occipital condyles. The zygomatic arch sexually dimorphic. is robust, but not extremely so, and has a gentle GEODIVERSITAS • 2013 • 35 (2) 361 Geraads D. & Miller E. TABLE 1. — Measurements (in mm) of the upper I1s of Brachypotherium minor n. sp. from Buluk. KNM WS-11 KNM WS-147 KNM WS-139 KNM WS-12860 KNM WS-12862 male male female female female Length of the crown c. 83 68 40.8 34 48.5 Width 22.5 20.8 14.4 14.5 14.3 sigmoid curvature; its ventral border has a large perhaps for a vestigial crochet) or constriction, notch behind the orbit. The latter is not well pre- so that their thickness is regular for most of their served; its anterior border is above the rear part length; the lingual cingulum is faint, except at the of M1. The nasals have been somewhat crushed opening of the central valley, where it is stronger. down into the nasal notch; therefore, the outline P4 displays the same features, except that it has a of the latter is not clear, but its bottom was above small crochet and a hint of protocone constric- P2/P3. The nasals show a hint of dorsal convex- tion. On the much worn M1, constriction of the ity and of longitudinal swellings that suggest that protocone is distinct but remains shallow, as on they might have born some kind of small horn, M2 and M3, which have a small crochet.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Kapitel 5.Indd
    Cour. Forsch.-Inst. Senckenberg 256 43–56 4 Figs, 2 Tabs Frankfurt a. M., 15. 11. 2006 Neogene Rhinoceroses of the Linxia Basin (Gansu, China) With 4 fi gs, 2 tabs Tao DENG Abstract Ten genera and thirteen species are recognized among the rhinocerotid remains from the Miocene and Pliocene deposits of the Linxia Basin in Gansu, China. Chilotherium anderssoni is reported for the fi rst time in the Linxia Basin, while Aprotodon sp. is found for the fi rst time in Lower Miocene deposits of the basin. The Late Miocene corresponds to a period of highest diversity with eight species, accompanying very abundant macromammals of the Hipparion fauna. Chilotherium wimani is absolutely dominant in number and present in all sites of MN 10–11 age. Compared with other regions in Eurasia and other ages, elasmotheres are more diversifi ed in the Linxia Basin during the Late Miocene. Coelodonta nihowanensis in the Linxia Basin indicates the known earliest appearance of the woolly rhino. The distribution of the Neogene rhinocerotids in the Linxia Basin can be correlated with paleoclimatic changes. Key words: Neogene, rhinoceros, biostratigraphy, systematic paleontology, Linxia Basin, China Introduction mens of mammalian fossils at Hezheng Paleozoological Museum in Gansu and Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology The Linxia Basin is situated in the northeastern corner of and Paleoanthropology in Beijing. the Tibetan Plateau, in the arid southeastern part ofeschweizerbartxxx Gansusng- Several hundred skulls of the Neogene rhinoceroses Province, China. In this basin, the Cenozoic deposits are are known from the Linxia Basin, but most of them belong very thick and well exposed, and produce abundant mam- to the Late Miocene aceratheriine Chilotherium wimani.
    [Show full text]
  • 71St Annual Meeting Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Paris Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada, USA November 2 – 5, 2011 SESSION CONCURRENT SESSION CONCURRENT
    ISSN 1937-2809 online Journal of Supplement to the November 2011 Vertebrate Paleontology Vertebrate Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Society of Vertebrate 71st Annual Meeting Paleontology Society of Vertebrate Las Vegas Paris Nevada, USA Las Vegas, November 2 – 5, 2011 Program and Abstracts Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 71st Annual Meeting Program and Abstracts COMMITTEE MEETING ROOM POSTER SESSION/ CONCURRENT CONCURRENT SESSION EXHIBITS SESSION COMMITTEE MEETING ROOMS AUCTION EVENT REGISTRATION, CONCURRENT MERCHANDISE SESSION LOUNGE, EDUCATION & OUTREACH SPEAKER READY COMMITTEE MEETING POSTER SESSION ROOM ROOM SOCIETY OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING PARIS LAS VEGAS HOTEL LAS VEGAS, NV, USA NOVEMBER 2–5, 2011 HOST COMMITTEE Stephen Rowland, Co-Chair; Aubrey Bonde, Co-Chair; Joshua Bonde; David Elliott; Lee Hall; Jerry Harris; Andrew Milner; Eric Roberts EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Philip Currie, President; Blaire Van Valkenburgh, Past President; Catherine Forster, Vice President; Christopher Bell, Secretary; Ted Vlamis, Treasurer; Julia Clarke, Member at Large; Kristina Curry Rogers, Member at Large; Lars Werdelin, Member at Large SYMPOSIUM CONVENORS Roger B.J. Benson, Richard J. Butler, Nadia B. Fröbisch, Hans C.E. Larsson, Mark A. Loewen, Philip D. Mannion, Jim I. Mead, Eric M. Roberts, Scott D. Sampson, Eric D. Scott, Kathleen Springer PROGRAM COMMITTEE Jonathan Bloch, Co-Chair; Anjali Goswami, Co-Chair; Jason Anderson; Paul Barrett; Brian Beatty; Kerin Claeson; Kristina Curry Rogers; Ted Daeschler; David Evans; David Fox; Nadia B. Fröbisch; Christian Kammerer; Johannes Müller; Emily Rayfield; William Sanders; Bruce Shockey; Mary Silcox; Michelle Stocker; Rebecca Terry November 2011—PROGRAM AND ABSTRACTS 1 Members and Friends of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, The Host Committee cordially welcomes you to the 71st Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in Las Vegas.
    [Show full text]
  • Investigating Sexual Dimorphism in Ceratopsid Horncores
    University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2013-01-25 Investigating Sexual Dimorphism in Ceratopsid Horncores Borkovic, Benjamin Borkovic, B. (2013). Investigating Sexual Dimorphism in Ceratopsid Horncores (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26635 http://hdl.handle.net/11023/498 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Investigating Sexual Dimorphism in Ceratopsid Horncores by Benjamin Borkovic A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES CALGARY, ALBERTA JANUARY, 2013 © Benjamin Borkovic 2013 Abstract Evidence for sexual dimorphism was investigated in the horncores of two ceratopsid dinosaurs, Triceratops and Centrosaurus apertus. A review of studies of sexual dimorphism in the vertebrate fossil record revealed methods that were selected for use in ceratopsids. Mountain goats, bison, and pronghorn were selected as exemplar taxa for a proof of principle study that tested the selected methods, and informed and guided the investigation of sexual dimorphism in dinosaurs. Skulls of these exemplar taxa were measured in museum collections, and methods of analysing morphological variation were tested for their ability to demonstrate sexual dimorphism in their horns and horncores.
    [Show full text]
  • Paleoecological Comparison Between Late Miocene Localities of China and Greece Based on Hipparion Faunas
    Paleoecological comparison between late Miocene localities of China and Greece based on Hipparion faunas Tao DENG Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044 (China) [email protected] Deng T. 2006. — Paleoecological comparison between late Miocene localities of China and Greece based on Hipparion faunas. Geodiversitas 28 (3) : 499-516. ABSTRACT Both China and Greece have abundant fossils of the late Miocene Hipparion fauna. Th e habitat of the Hipparion fauna in Greece was a sclerophyllous ever- green woodland. Th e Chinese late Miocene Hipparion fauna is represented respectively in the Guonigou fauna (MN 9), the Dashengou fauna (MN 10), and the Yangjiashan fauna (MN 11) from Linxia, Gansu, and the Baode fauna (MN 12) from Baode, Shanxi. According to the evidence from lithology, carbon isotopes, paleobotany, taxonomic framework, mammalian diversity and faunal similarity, the paleoenvironment of the Hipparion fauna in China was a subarid open steppe, which is diff erent from that of Greece. Th e red clay bearing the Hipparion fauna in China is windblown in origin, i.e. eolian deposits. Stable carbon isotopes from tooth enamel and paleosols indicate that C3 plants domi- nated the vegetation during the late Miocene in China. Pollens of xerophilous and sub-xerophilous grasses show a signal of steppe or dry grassland. Forest mammals, such as primates and chalicotheres, are absent or scarce, but grass- land mammals, such as horses and rhinoceroses, are abundant in the Chinese Hipparion fauna. Th e species richness of China and Greece exhibits a similar KEY WORDS trend with a clear increase from MN 9 to MN 12, but the two regions have Hipparion fauna, low similarities at the species level.
    [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]
  • Sexual Dimorphism in Perissodactyl Rhinocerotid Chilotherium Wimani from the Late Miocene of the Linxia Basin (Gansu, China)
    Sexual dimorphism in perissodactyl rhinocerotid Chilotherium wimani from the late Miocene of the Linxia Basin (Gansu, China) SHAOKUN CHEN, TAO DENG, SUKUAN HOU, QINQIN SHI, and LIBO PANG Chen, S., Deng, T., Hou, S., Shi, Q., and Pang, L. 2010. Sexual dimorphism in perissodactyl rhinocerotid Chilotherium wimani from the late Miocene of the Linxia Basin (Gansu, China). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 55 (4): 587–597. Sexual dimorphism is reviewed and described in adult skulls of Chilotherium wimani from the Linxia Basin. Via the anal− ysis and comparison, several very significant sexually dimorphic features are recognized. Tusks (i2), symphysis and oc− cipital surface are larger in males. Sexual dimorphism in the mandible is significant. The anterior mandibular morphology is more sexually dimorphic than the posterior part. The most clearly dimorphic character is i2 length, and this is consistent with intrasexual competition where males invest large amounts of energy jousting with each other. The molar length, the height and the area of the occipital surface are correlated with body mass, and body mass sexual dimorphism is compared. Society behavior and paleoecology of C. wimani are different from most extinct or extant rhinos. M/F ratio indicates that the mortality of young males is higher than females. According to the suite of dimorphic features of the skull of C. wimani, the tentative sex discriminant functions are set up in order to identify the gender of the skulls. Key words: Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Chilotherium wimani, sexual dimorphism, statistics, late Miocene, China. Shaokun Chen [[email protected]], Chongqing Three Gorges Institute of Paleoanthropology, China Three Gorges Museum, 236 Ren−Min Road, Chongqing 400015, China and Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 142 Xi−Zhi−Men−Wai Street, P.O.
    [Show full text]
  • Late Miocene Indarctos (Carnivora: Ursidae) from Kalmakpai Locality in Kazakhstan
    Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS Vol. 321, No. 1, 2017, рр. 3–9 УДК 569.742.2/551.782.1: 574 LATE MIOCENE INDARCTOS (CARNIVORA: URSIDAE) FROM THE KARABULAK FORMATION OF THE KALMAKPAI RIVER (ZAISAN DEPRESSION, EASTERN KAZAKHSTAN) G.F. Baryshnikov1* and P.A. Tleuberdina2 1Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Science, Universitetskaya Emb. 1, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia; e-mail: [email protected]; 2Museum of Nature of “Gylym ordasy” Republican State Organization of Science Committee, MES RK, Shevchenko ul. 28, 050010 Almaty, Kazakhstan; e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT The big bear from the genus Indarctos is studied for the Neogene fauna of Kazakhstan for the first time. Material is represented by the isolated М1 found at the Late Miocene deposits (MN13) of the Karabulak Formation of the Kalmakpai River (Zaisan Depression, Eastern Kazakhstan). Tooth size and its morphology suggest this finding to be referred to I. punjabiensis, which was widely distributed in Eurasia. Key words: biostratigraphy, Indarctos, Kazakhstan, Late Miocene ПОЗДНЕМИОЦЕНОВЫЙ INDARCTOS (CARNIVORA: URSIDAE) ИЗ ФОРМАЦИИ КАРАБУЛАК НА РЕКЕ КАЛМАКПАЙ (ЗАЙСАНСКАЯ КОТЛОВИНА, ВОСТОЧНЫЙ КАЗАХСТАН) Г.Ф. Барышников1* и П.А. Тлеубердина2 1Зоологический институт, Российская академия наук, Университетская наб. 1, 199034 Санкт-Петербург, Россия; e-mail: [email protected]; 2Музей природы, РГП «Гылым ордасы» КН МОН РК, Шевченко 28, 050010 Алматы, Казахстан; e-mail: [email protected] РЕЗЮМЕ Впервые для неогеновой фауны Казахстана изучен крупный медведь из рода Indarctos. Материал представ- лен изолированным М1, найденным в позднемиоценовых отложениях (MN13) формации Карабулак на реке Калмакпай (Зайсанская котловина, Восточный Казахстан). Размеров и зубная морфология позволяет отне- сти находку к I.
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern Georgia and Western Azerbaijan, South Caucasus)
    Synopsis of the terrestrial vertebrate faunas from the Middle Kura Basin (Eastern Georgia and Western Azerbaijan, South Caucasus) MAIA BUKHSIANIDZE and KAKHABER KOIAVA Bukhsianidze, M. and Koiava, K. 2018. Synopsis of the terrestrial vertebrate faunas from the Middle Kura Basin (Eastern Georgia and Western Azerbaijan, South Caucasus). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 63 (3): 441–461. This paper summarizes knowledge on the Neogene–Quaternary terrestrial fossil record from the Middle Kura Basin accumulated over a century and aims to its integration into the current research. This fossil evidence is essential in understanding the evolution of the Eurasian biome, since this territory is located at the border of Eastern Mediterranean and Central Asian regions. The general biostratigraphic framework suggests existence of two major intervals of the terrestrial fossil record in the area, spanning ca. 10–7 Ma and ca. 3–1 Ma, and points to an important hiatus between the late Miocene and late Pliocene. General aspects of the paleogeographic history and fossil record suggest that the biogeographic role of the Middle Kura Basin has been changing over geological time from a refugium (Khersonian) to a full-fledged part of the Greco-Iranian province (Meotian–Pontian). The dynamic environmental changes during the Quaternary do not depict this territory as a refugium in its general sense. The greatest value of this fossil record is the potential to understand a detailed history of terrestrial life during demise of late Miocene Hominoidea in Eurasia and early Homo dispersal out of Africa. Late Miocene record of the Middle Kura Basin captures the latest stage of the Eastern Paratethys regression, and among other fossils counts the latest and the easternmost occurence of dryopithecine, Udabnopithecus garedziensis, while the almost uninterrupted fossil record of the late Pliocene–Early Pleistocene covers the time interval of the early human occupation of Caucasus and Eurasia.
    [Show full text]
  • Late Miocene Large Mammals from Yulafli, Thrace Region, Turkey, and Their Biogeographic Implications
    Late Miocene large mammals from Yulafli, Thrace region, Turkey, and their biogeographic implications DENIS GERAADS, TANJU KAYA, and SERDAR MAYDA Geraads, D., Kaya, T., and Mayda, S. 2005. Late Miocene large mammals from Yulafli, Thrace region, Turkey, and their biogeographic implications. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 50 (3): 523–544. Collecting over the last twenty years in sand and gravel quarries near Yulafli in European Turkey has yielded a substantial fauna of large mammals. The most significant of these for biochronology are well−preserved remains of the ursid Indarctos arctoides, the suid Hippopotamodon antiquus, and several rhino genera. They point to a late Vallesian (MN 10−equivalent) age. Several other taxa, of longer chronological range, are in good agreement with this dating. The Proboscidea include, besides the Eastern Mediterranean Choerolophodon, the Deinotherium + Tetralophodon associa− tion, commonly found in Europe, and the rare “Mastodon” grandincisivus, here reported for the first time in the Vallesian. The age of Yulafli shows that the large size of some taxa, such as Deinotherium (size close to that of D. gigantissimum) and Dorcatherium, does not always track chronology. The Yulafli fauna is close in composition and ecology to other lo− calities in Turkish Thrace, and also shares several taxa unknown in Anatolia, especially Dorcatherium, with the North−Western European Province. It reflects a forested/humid landscape that extended in Vallesian times along the Aegean coast of Turkey, perhaps as far South as Crete, quite distinct from the open environments recorded at the same pe− riod in Greek Macedonia and Anatolia, and probably more like the central European one.
    [Show full text]
  • The Late Miocene Mammal Faunas of the Mytilinii Basin, Samos Island, Greece: New Collection 16
    ©Verein zur Förderung der Paläontologie am Institut für Paläontologie, Geozentrum Wien Beitr. Paläont., 31:397-408, Wien 2009 The Late Miocene Mammal Faunas of the Mytilinii Basin, Samos Island, Greece: New Collection 16. Biochronology by George D. Koufos, Dimitris S. Kostopoulos & Theodora D. Vlachou*) K o u f o s , G.D., K o s t o p o u l o s , D.S. & V l a c h o u , Th.D. 2009. The Late Miocene Mammal Faunas of the Mytilinii Basin, Samos Island, Greece: New Collection. 16. Biochronology. — Beitr. Palaont., 31:397-408, Wien. Abstract Zuordnung der Säugetierfunde von Samos für lange Zeit. Zwei Interpretationen sind bekannt: bei der ersten handelt The limited correlation of the old collections to the fos- es sich um die Möglichkeit zweier Faunenvergesellschaf­ siliferous sites and to the local stratigraphy prevented safe tungen und die andere wäre eine homogene, isochrone dating of the Samos mammal fauna for a long time. Two Fauna. Neu aufgesammeltes Material und die detaillierte main approaches are known: that supporting the presence Studie dazu erlauben eine Trennung in drei aufeinander of two faunal assemblages and that of a single homogene­ folgende Faunenhorizonte (MLN, MYT, MTL), die vom ous and isochronous fauna. The collected new material, obersten Frühturolium bis zum späten Mittelturolium and its detailed study and comparison allow the separation reichen. Die Aufarbeitung der alten Sammlungen mit der of three chronologically succeeding faunal assemblages lokalen Stratigraphie und der Vergleich mit den Neufun­ MLN, MYT, M TL, ranging from the uppermost early den, sowie die Miteinbeziehung der magnetostratigraphi­ Turolian to late middle Turolian.
    [Show full text]
  • Zoologica Fennica
    SOCIETAS PRO FAUNA ET FLORA FENNICA lACTA ZOOLOGICA FENNICA 144 Miguel Crusafont Pair6 and Bjorn Kurten: Bears and Bear-Dogs from the Vallesian of the Valles-Penedes Basin, Spain Helstngl Yllopl ton et Aki.das o HELSINKI-HELSINGFORS 1976 ACTA ZOOLOGICA FENNICA 1-45 vide Acta Zoologica Fennica 45-50. 46-59 vide Acta Zoologica Fennica 60-93. 60-99 vide Acta Zoologica Fennica 100-125. 100. MARrA REuTER: Untersuchungen iiber Rassenbildung bei Gyratrix hermaphroditus (Turbellaria Neorhabdocoela). 32 S. (1961). 101. MARrA REuTER: Index Generalis Seriei Acta Zoologica Fennica 51-100 (194&-- 1961). 63 s. (1964). 102. WALTER HAcKMAN: Studies on the dipterous fauna in burrows of voles (Microtus, Oethrionomys) in Finland. 64 pp. (1963). 103. A. M. ]. EvERS: Dber die Entstehung der Excitatoren und deren Bedeutung fiir die Evolution der Malachiidae (Col.). 24 S. (1963). 104. ]oHAN REUTER: The international concentration in some hypotrichous Ciliates and its dependence on the external concentration. 94 pp. (1963). 105. GoRAN BERGMAN and KAr Ono DoNNER: An analysis of the spring migration of the Common Scoter and the Long-tailed Duck in southern Finland. 59 pp. (1964). 106. HENRrK OsTERHOLM: The significance of distance receptors in the feeding behaviour of the Fox, Vulpes vulpes L. 31 pp. (1964). 107. BJORN KuRTEN: The Carnivora of the Palestine caves. 74 pp. (1965). 108. BJORN KuRTEN: The evolution of the Polar Bear, Ursus maritimus Phipps. 30 pp. (1964). 109. FRANK S. ToMPA: Factors determining the numbers of song sparrows, Melospiza melodia (Wilson), on Mandarte Island, B. C., Canada. 73 pp. (1964). 110. PoNTUS PALMGREN: Die Spinnenfauna der Gegend von Kilpisjiirvi in Lappland.
    [Show full text]
  • Advanced Online Publication
    ChinaXiv合作期刊 古 脊 椎 动 物 学 报 VERTEBRATA PALASIATICA DOI: 10.19615/j.cnki.1000-3118.180109 A new species of Chilotherium (Perissodactyla, Rhinocerotidae) from the Late Miocene of Qingyang, Gansu, China SUN Dan-Hui1,2 LI Yu1,2 DENG Tao1,2,3,4* (1 Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100044 * Corresponding author: [email protected]) (2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049) (3 TCAS Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment Beijing 100044) Advanced(4 Department of Earth Sciences, Nanjingonline University Nanjing 210023) publication Abstract An adult skull with articulated atlas and an adult mandible, collected by Emile Licent in 1920 from the Late Miocene of Qingyang (Gansu, China), is recognized as a new species Chilotherium licenti sp. nov. These specimens possess typical characters of the genus Chilotherium, such as the strongly expanded mandibular symphysis, the huge and dagger-shaped i2s with an upturned medial flange, strongly constricted protocones, well-developed crochet and crista, and weakly developed parastyle folds and paracone ribs. Chilotherium licenti is characterized by the near absence of lingual and buccal cingula, and the medifossette on P2 to M2 forming by well-developed crochet and crista. The derived characters of the new species indicate that it is the highly specialized taxon of the genus Chilotherium, corresponding to MN12–13 of the Turolian in Europe. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of rhinocerotids, C. licenti from the Late Miocene is the most derived species in the known species of the Chilotherium lineage.
    [Show full text]