DOCSLIB.ORG

GSN Comms 19. 9. Sanchez Et Al Propalaeoryx

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
GSN Comms 19. 9. Sanchez Et Al Propalaeoryx Propalaeoryx Stromer 1926 (Ruminantia, Pecora, Giraffomorpha) revisited: systematics and phylogeny of an African palaeomerycoid 1Israel M. SÁNCHEZ, 2Jorge MORALES, 3Juan López CANTALAPIEDRA, 4Victoria QUIRALTE & 5Martin PICKFORD 1Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici ICTA- ICP, c/ Columnes s/n, Campus de la UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain, (e-mail : [email protected]). 2Departamento de Paleobiología, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales–CSIC, C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain, (e-mail : [email protected]). 3Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain, (e-mail:[email protected]). 4Museo Geominero (IGME), C/ Ríos Rosas, 23. 28003, Madrid (España), (e-mail : [email protected]). 5 Sorbonne Universités (CR2P, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC - Paris VI) 8, rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France, (e-mail : [email protected]). Abstract : We describe new mandibular and dental material of Propalaeoryx stromeri from Langental (early Miocene, Sperrgebiet, Namibia), and re-describe the cranial anatomy of this genus of African giraffomorphs. The occipital and nuchal anatomy of the two Propalaeoryx species are described and emended differential diagnoses are presented. Several cranial and postcranial characters are crucial for understanding the position of Propalaeoryx as a basal member of the Palaeomerycoidea within the Giraffomorpha. We define the clade Palaeomerycoidea as the least inclusive clade of giraffomorphs containing Triceromeryx and Propalaeoryx . Finally, the phylogenetic position of Propalaeoryx unveils a putative early African-Eurasian vicariance event among basal palaeomerycoids that probably took place around the Oligo-Miocene boundary, a time when other ruminant lineages were also splitting. Key Words : Ruminants; Early Miocene; Namibia; Sperrgebiet; Evolution; Phylogeny. To cite this paper : Sánchez, I. Morales, J. Cantalapiedra, J.L. Quiralte, V. & Pickford, M. 2018. Propalaeoryx Stromer 1926 (Ruminantia, Pecora, Giraffomorpha) revisited: systematics and phylogeny of an African palaeomerycoid. Communications of the Geological Survey of Namibia . 19, 123-131. Introduction Propalaeoryx (Fig. 1) is a genus of austroafricanus and to a new species P. African pecorans first described by Stromer stromeri , which differed from the former in (1926) on the basis of dental and being more microdont (smaller teeth and postcranial material from Elisabethfeld larger postcranial skeleton) and with a more (early Miocene, Sperrgebiet). Stromer noted derived lower dentition (flatter cuspids, the morphological differences between higher crowns, less developed stylids) Propalaeoryx and extinct and extant besides another characters (Morales et al . ruminants, but he did not elaborate a clear 2008). The authors also described much of hypothesis of relationship with any of them. the postcranial skeleton of Propalaeoryx He described Propalaeoryx as a ruminant as highlighting several characters in the large as a fallow deer ( Dama dama ) with navicular-cuboid in the tarsus that later premolar series as long as the molar series proved relevant for resolving pecoran and wrinkled enamel in the lower molars phylogeny at a large-clade level (see (Stromer, 1926). On the basis of new Sánchez et al . 2015). Morales et al . (2008) material collected in the Sperrgebiet by the referred to Propalaeoryx as a probably Namibia Palaeontology Expeditions, hornless pecoran (no cranial appendages or Morales et al . (2008) described abundant frontal bone fragments have been found) material attributed to the type species P. with large sabre-like upper canines in the 123 males. These canines are of the moschid- Sánchez et al . (2015) recovered type a very conspicuous morphology Propalaeoryx as the sister-group of the among pecorans (Sánchez et al . 2010a). Palaeomerycidae within the Giraffomorpha Morales et al . (2008) attributed Propalae- as the basal offshoot of the Palaeo- oryx to the Climacoceratidae, a Miocene merycoidea, thus rejecting the climaco- African group of giraffoids also including ceratid hypothesis and offering a new and forms such as Orangemeryx and Climaco- more complex evolutionary scenario for the ceras . However, they did not offer a large clade of pecorans of which giraffes phylogenetic analysis. Recently, the total- (Giraffa and Okapia ) are the only living evidence tip-dating phylogenetic analysis of representatives. Figure 1. Reconstruction of an adult male of Propalaeoryx stromeri . Illustration by Israel M. Sánchez. In this paper we aim a) to describe new cranial and postcranial morphological Propalaeoryx austroafricanus material characters that unite Propalaeoryx with the from Langental, b) to describe new cranial Palaeomerycidae and d) to discuss the characters that differentiate the two species evolutionary hypotheses derived from the of Propalaeoryx , offering emended phylogenetic position of Propalaeoryx as diagnoses in detail, c) to describe both the published by Sánchez et al . (2015). Material and methods Material . In this work we studied (2000) - English version in Sánchez & Propalaeoryx austroafricanus mandibular Morales (2008) - has been followed for and cranial material from Elisabethfeld and nomenclature of the dentition. P. stromeri cranial material from Langental. Abbreviations . EF - Elisabethfeld; LT - These fossils are curated by the Geological Langental; GSN - Geological Survey of Survey of Namibia (Windhoek, Namibia) Namibia; MNCN-CSIC - Museo Nacional and are currently on study loan in the de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC (Madrid, MNCN-CSIC (Madrid, Spain). Spain). Nomenclature . Postcranial anatomical terms are based on Barone (1999). Azanza 124 Systematic Palaeontology Ruminantia Scopoli, 1777 Giraffomorpha Sánchez, Cantalapiedra, Ríos, Quiralte & Morales, 2015 Palaeomerycoidea Ríos, Sánchez & Morales, 2017 Genus Propalaeoryx Stromer, 1926 Emended diagnosis .- Palaeomerycoid metatarsal sulcus; small metatarsal giraffomorph with deep rectilinear groove tuberosity; semicircular P4/ with flat cones; behind the temporal fossa; enlarged upper lower molars with flattened cuspids, canines of moschid-type in males; presence especially the lingual ones. Based on of lateral notch in the facet for the Sánchez et al . (2015). semilunate in the radius; distally closed Type species .- Propalaeoryx austroafricanus Stromer, 1926 Additional species in the genus .- Propalaeoryx stromeri Morales, Soria & Pickford, 2008 Species Propalaeoryx austroafricanus Stromer, 1926 Emended diagnosis .- Propalaeoryx with osities anterior to the occipital condyles; ventrally narrowed foramen magnum that presence of deep lateral fossettes over the displays an almost closed state; slightly occipital condyles in the nuchal plane. developed posterior basioccipital tuber- Description We restudied the cranial (occipital) surface of the condyles. In the outer surface fragment GSN EF 34’01, which shows the fusion is not complete and a relatively some important, and so far undescribed, wide canal appears (see Fig. 2, I). In features. The most conspicuous character is addition to this, the nuchal plane in the presence of a ventrally closed foramen Propalaeoryx austroafricanus is more magnum similar to that observed in the convex than in P. stromeri , and a pair of Prolibytheriidae (see e.g. Danowitz et al . well-developed fossettes is present over 2016). However, in contrast to the each occipital condyle. Finally, the Prolibytherium condition, the fusion in P. posterior basioccipital tubercles are austroafricanus only affects the inner relatively weak (Fig. 2, H-I). Species Propalaeoryx stromeri Morales, Soria & Pickford, 2008 New material .- GSN LT 37’08 + LT 47’06, right hemi-mandible with p/2-m/3 (Fig. 2, A-C). Emended diagnosis .- In Morales et al . osities anterior to the occipital condyles; (2008) plus: loss of p/1; ventrally wide presence of shallow, weakly expressed foramen magnum with open U-shaped lateral fossettes over the occipital condyles morphology; strongly developed and in the nuchal plane. quadrangular posterior basioccipital tuber- Differential diagnosis .- Differs from the ventrally open foramen magnum; stronger type species of the genus in the characters and quadrangular-shaped posterior basi- listed by Morales et al . (2008) plus: more occipital tuberosities; lack of deep fossettes 125 over the occipital condyles in the nuchal plane. Description We here describe a new hemi-mandible describe the occipital fragment GSN LT (GSN LT 37’08 + LT 47’06; Fig. 2, A-C) 194’96a (Fig. 2, D-G). with the complete lower tooth series and re- Figure 2. A, Propalaeoryx stromeri GSN LT 37’08 + LT 47’06, right hemi-mandible with p/2-m/3 in buccal view; B, Propalaeoryx stromeri GSN LT 37’08 + LT 47’06, right hemi-mandible with p/2-m/3 in lingual view; C, Propalaeoryx stromeri GSN LT 37’08 + LT 47’06, right hemi-mandible with p/2-m/3 in occlusal view; D, Propalaeoryx stromeri GSN LT 194’96a, skull fragment, in left lateral view; E, Propalaeoryx stromeri GSN LT 194’96a, skull fragment, in right lateral view; F, Propalaeoryx stromeri LT 194’96a, skull fragment, in caudal view; G, Propalaeoryx stromeri GSN LT 194’96a, skull fragment, in ventral view; H, Propalaeoryx austroafricanus GSN EF 34’01, skull fragment, in caudal view; I, Propalaeoryx austroafricanus GSN EF 34’01, skull fragment, in ventral view. Abbreviation : OGr, Occipital groove. Mandible and adult lower dentition . As is lingual cristid that almost closes the medial
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Short Title: Ecological Properties of Ruminal Microbiota
    Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 24 December 2020 doi:10.20944/preprints202012.0628.v1 CHARACTERISTICS OF RUMINAL MICROBIAL COMMUNITY: EVOLUTIONARY AND ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES AMLAN KUMAR PATRA* Department of Animal Nutrition, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Belgachia, K.B. Sarani 37, Kolkata 700037, India *Corresponding author. Email address: [email protected] (A.K. Patra) Short title: Ecological properties of ruminal microbiota 0 © 2020 by the author(s). Distributed under a Creative Commons CC BY license. Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 24 December 2020 doi:10.20944/preprints202012.0628.v1 CHARACTERISTICS OF RUMINAL MICROBIAL COMMUNITY: EVOLUTIONARY AND ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES Abstract Ruminants perhaps appeared about 50 million years ago (Ma). Five ruminant families had been extinct and about 200 species in 6 ruminant families are living today. The first ruminant family probably was small omnivore without functional ruminal microbiota to digest fiber. Subsequently, other ruminant families evolved around 18-23 Ma along with woodlands and grasslands. Probably, ruminants started to consume selective and highly nutritious plant leaves and grasses similar to concentrates. By 5-11 Ma, grasslands expanded and some ruminants used more grass in their diets with comparatively low nutritive values and high fibers. Historically, humans have domesticated 9 ruminant species that are mostly utilizer of low quality forages for human benefits. Thus, the non-functional rumen microbiota to predominantly concentrate fermenting microbiota, followed by predominantly fiber digesting microbiota had evolved for mutual complementary benefits of holobiont over the million years. The core microbiome of ruminant species seems the resultant of hologenome interaction in an evolutionary unit.
    [Show full text]
  • Original Giraffokeryx Punjabiensis (Artiodactyla, Ruminantia, Giraffidae) from Lower Siwaliks (Chinji Formation) of Dhok Bun
    Original Giraffokeryx punjabiensis (Artiodactyla, Ruminantia, Giraffidae) from Lower Siwaliks (Chinji Formation) of Dhok Bun Ameer Khatoon, Pakistan Khizar Samiullah1*, Muhammad Akhtar2, Abdul Ghaffar3, Muhammad Akbar Khan4 Received : 28 January 2011 ; Accepted : 13 September 2011 Abstract Fossil remains of Giraffokeryx punjabiensis (premolar and molar teeth belonging to the upper and lower jaws) have been collected and discussed from Chinji Formation of Dhok Bun Ameer Khatoon (32o 47’ 26.4” N, 72° 55’ 35.7” E). All these (twenty one) specimens are isolated teeth, which provide new data and give valuable information on the biostratigrphy and paleoecology of Giraffokeryx punjabiensis as well as the stratigraphy and paleoclimates of these Miocene rocks of the Chakwal district, Pakistan. Keywords: Giraffokeryx punjabiensis, isolated teeth, Chinji Formation, biostratigraphy Miocene rocks, Chakwal district. Introduction Dhok Bun Ameer Khatoon (DBAK) is poorly known fossil ramii and a number of isolated teeth. Mathew4 studied site of the Siwaliks. Previous pioneer workers 1,2,3,4,5 did the material of this species at the Indian Museum, not visit this site nor mentioned it in their faunal list. Kolkata (Calcutta), and recognized a larger and a During the last decade, this site had got attraction of smaller form. However, Colbert5 suggested there was researchers when few fossils were unearthed during a continuous size gradation of the dental material of the mechanical work for construction of dam for water the species through the Chinji to the Nagri Formation storage purposes. Girafids, bovids, tragulids, suids, and therefore that no such size division exists in the hominids, rhinos, chilothers anthracothers and carnivors material of the genus Giraffokeryx.
    [Show full text]
  • A Genus-Level Phylogenetic Analysis of Antilocapridae And
    A GENUS-LEVEL PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF ANTILOCAPRIDAE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EVOLUTION OF HEADGEAR MORPHOLOGY AND PALEOECOLOGY by HOLLEY MAY FLORA A THESIS Presented to the Department of EArth Sciences And the Graduate School of the University of Oregon in partiAl fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MAster of Science September 2019 THESIS APPROVAL PAGE Student: Holley MAy Flora Title: A Genus-level Phylogenetic Analysis of AntilocApridae and ImplicAtions for the Evolution of HeAdgeAr Morphology and PAleoecology This Thesis has been accepted and approved in partiAl fulfillment of the requirements for the MAster of Science degree in the Department of EArth Sciences by: EdwArd Byrd DAvis Advisor SAmAntha S. B. Hopkins Core Member Matthew Polizzotto Core Member Stephen Frost Institutional RepresentAtive And JAnet Woodruff-Borden DeAn of the Graduate School Original Approval signatures are on file with the University of Oregon Graduate School Degree awArded September 2019. ii ã 2019 Holley MAy Flora This work is licensed under a CreAtive Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (United States) License. iii THESIS ABSTRACT Holley MAy Flora MAster of Science Department of EArth Sciences September 2019 Title: A Genus-level Phylogenetic Analysis of AntilocApridae and ImplicAtions for the Evolution of HeAdgeAr Morphology and PAleoecology The shapes of Artiodactyl heAdgeAr plAy key roles in interactions with their environment and eAch other. Consequently, heAdgeAr morphology cAn be used to predict behavior. For eXAmple, lArger, recurved horns are typicAl of gregarious, lArge-bodied AnimAls fighting for mAtes. SmAller spike-like horns are more characteristic of small- bodied, paired mAtes from closed environments. Here, I report a genus-level clAdistic Analysis of the extinct family, AntilocApridae, testing prior hypotheses of evolutionary history And heAdgeAr evolution.
    [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]
  • Sivatherium (Artiodactyla, Ruminantia, Giraffidae) from the Upper Siwaliks, Pakistan
    Khan et al. The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 21(2): 2011, Page: J.202 Anim.-206Plant Sci. 21(2):2011 ISSN: 1018-7081 SIVATHERIUM (ARTIODACTYLA, RUMINANTIA, GIRAFFIDAE) FROM THE UPPER SIWALIKS, PAKISTAN A. A. Khan, M. A. Khan*, M. Iqbal**, M. Akhtar*** and M. Sarwar*** Institute of Pure & Applied Biology, Zoology Division, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan *Zoology Department, GC University, Faisalabad, **Zoology Department, Government College Science, Wahdat Road, Lahore ***Zoology Department, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Punjab University, Lahore Correspondence author e-mail: <[email protected]>; ABSTRACT A complete lower molar series of giraffid remains from the Pleistocene locality of the village Sardhok (Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan) has been identified as belonging to Sivatherium sp. The comparison of the material was made with several Siwalik representatives of the giraffids. The giraffid Sivatherium is a gigantic giraffid found in the early Pleistocene sediments of the Upper Siwaliks. The village Sardhok locality has yielded one of the best collections of Giraffidae from the early Pleistocene of the Siwaliks. The locality belongs to the Pinjor Formation of the Upper Siwaliks (2.6-0.6 Ma). Key words: Giraffids, Sivatherium, Upper Siwaliks, Pleistocene, Pinjor Formation. INTRODUCTION The material described here comes from the outcrops of the village Sardhok, Gujrat district, Punjab, The fossil Chinese record shown by Bohlin Pakistan. In the Potwar Plateau, the Upper Siwalik is well (1927) and that of Asia shown by Colbert (1935) exposed in the Pabbi hills situated in the east of the River indicates that the giraffids had their origin in the Jhelum. The village Sardhok is situated in these low Holarctic Region.
    [Show full text]
  • Giraffa (Giraffidae, Mammalia) from the Lower Siwaliks of Pakistan
    Aftab et al., The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 26(3): 2016, Page:J.833 Anim.-841 Plant Sci. 26(3):2016 ISSN: 1018-7081 GIRAFFA (GIRAFFIDAE, MAMMALIA) FROM THE LOWER SIWALIKS OF PAKISTAN K. Aftab1*, M. A. Khan2, M. A. Babar2, Z. Ahmad1 and M. Akhtar2 1 Zoology Department, GC University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan 2 Dr. Abu Bakr Fossil Display and Research Centre, Zoology Department, Quid-e-Azam Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan Corresponding author Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT New remains of Giraffa priscilla are recorded from the Middle Miocene localities of Pakistan. The material originates from Chinji Rest House, Rakh Wasnal, Dhok Bun Amir Khatoon, Dhulian, Ghungrilla, Dial, Lava, Phadial, Bhelomar and Ratial. These localities are also well known for the rich Middle Miocene mammalian fauna of the Siwaliks. The estimated age of these localities is 14.2–11.2 Ma, belonging to the Chinji Formation of the Lower Siwaliks. The findings contribute to our understanding of the presence of this species in the Middle Miocene of Pakistan. Key words: Mammalia, Vertebrates, Giraffa priscilla, Miocene, Siwaliks. INTRODUCTION Wynn et al., 2006). Giraffa pygmaea was smaller than G. camelopardalis and G. stillei. It has been recognized Siwalik Hills are famous for its mammalian from Ethiopia, Kenya and Malawi (Taieb et al., 1976; fossil fauna (Pilgrim, 1910, 1911, 1913; Matthew, 1929; Kalb et al., 1982; Harris, 1991; Schrenk et al., 1993; Colbert, 1935; Sarwar, 1977; Thomas, 1984; Akhtar, Bromage et al., 1995). Giraffa stillei was larger than G. 1992; Barry et al., 2002; Bhatti et al., 2007, 2012a, b; jumae and G.
    [Show full text]
  • First Bone-Cracking Dog Coprolites Provide New Insight
    RESEARCH ARTICLE First bone-cracking dog coprolites provide new insight into bone consumption in Borophagus and their unique ecological niche Xiaoming Wang1,2,3*, Stuart C White4, Mairin Balisi1,3, Jacob Biewer5,6, Julia Sankey6, Dennis Garber1, Z Jack Tseng1,2,7 1Department of Vertebrate Paleontology, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, United States; 2Department of Vertebrate Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, United States; 3Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, United States; 4School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, United States; 5Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, Fullerton, United States; 6Department of Geology, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, United States; 7Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, United States Abstract Borophagine canids have long been hypothesized to be North American ecological ‘avatars’ of living hyenas in Africa and Asia, but direct fossil evidence of hyena-like bone consumption is hitherto unknown. We report rare coprolites (fossilized feces) of Borophagus parvus from the late Miocene of California and, for the first time, describe unambiguous evidence that these predatory canids ingested large amounts of bone. Surface morphology, micro-CT analyses, and contextual information reveal (1) droppings in concentrations signifying scent-marking behavior, similar to latrines used by living social carnivorans; (2) routine consumption of skeletons; *For correspondence: (3) undissolved bones inside coprolites indicating gastrointestinal similarity to modern striped and [email protected] brown hyenas; (4) B. parvus body weight of ~24 kg, reaching sizes of obligatory large-prey hunters; ~ Competing interests: The and (5) prey size ranging 35–100 kg.
    [Show full text]
  • Ontogenetic Allometry of the Postcranial Skeleton of the Giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis), with Application to Giraffe Life History, Evolution and Palaeontology
    Ontogenetic allometry of the postcranial skeleton of the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), with application to giraffe life history, evolution and palaeontology By Sybrand Jacobus van Sittert Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the Department of Production Animal Studies Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria Supervisor: Prof Graham Mitchell Former supervisor (deceased): Prof John D Skinner Date submitted: October 2015 i Declaration I, Sybrand Jacobus van Sittert, declare that the thesis, which I hereby submit for the degree Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Pretoria is my own work and has not previously been submitted by me for a degree at this or any other tertiary institution. October 2015 ii Acknowledgements Including a list of people to whom I am grateful to in the acknowledgement section hardly does justice to the respective persons: A thesis is, in all honestly, only comprehensively read by very few people. Nevertheless, it occurred to me that even when I roughly skim through a thesis or dissertation for bits of information, I am always drawn into the acknowledgements. I suppose it is the only section where one can get a glimpse into the life of the researcher in an otherwise rather ‘cold’ academic work. Therefore, although not a large platform to say ‘thank you’, I wish to convey to everyone listed here that you are in the warmest part of my heart … and probably the most read part of my thesis. Prof Graham Mitchell for his patience with me, his guidance, enthusiasm and confidence. I consider myself lucky and honoured to have had you as a supervisor.
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolution of Animal Weapons
    The Evolution of Animal Weapons Douglas J. Emlen Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812; email: [email protected] Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 2008. 39:387-413 Key Words First published online as a Review in Advance on animal diversity, sexual selection, male competition, horns, antlers, tusks September 2, 2008 The Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Abstract Systematics is online at ecolsys.annualreviews.org Males in many species invest substantially in structures that are used in com- This article's doi: bat with rivals over access to females. These weapons can attain extreme 10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.39.110707.173 502 proportions and have diversified in form repeatedly. I review empirical lit- Copyright © 2008 by Annual Reviews. erature on the function and evolution of sexually selected weapons to clarify All rights reserved important unanswered questions for future research. Despite their many 1543-592X/08/1201-0387$20.00 shapes and sizes, and the multitude of habitats within which they function, animal weapons share many properties: They evolve when males are able to defend spatially restricted critical resources, they are typically the most variable morphological structures of these species, and this variation hon- estly reflects among-individual differences in body size or quality. What is not clear is how, or why, these weapons diverge in form. The potential for male competition to drive rapid divergence in weapon morphology remains one of the most exciting and understudied topics in sexual selection research today. 3*7 INTRODUCTION Sexual selection is credited with the evolution of nature's most extravagant structures, and these include showy male adornments that are attractive to females (ornaments) and an arsenal of outgrowths that function in male-male combat (weapons) (Darwin 1871).
    [Show full text]
  • Discovery of Prolibytherium Magnieri Arambourg, 1961 (Artiodactyla, Climacoceratidae) in Egypt
    Discovery of Prolibytherium magnieri Arambourg, 1961 (Artiodactyla, Climacoceratidae) in Egypt Martin PICKFORD Chaire de Paléoanthropologie et de Préhistoire, Collège de France, 11 place M. Berthelot, F-75005 Paris (France) Laboratoire de Paléontologie, UMR 8596 du CNRS, 8 rue Buffon, F-75231 Paris cedex 05 (France) [email protected] Yousri Saad ATTIA Medhat Said ABD EL GHANY Egyptian Geological Museum, EGSMA, Athar El Nabi, Misr El Kadima, Cairo (Egypt) [email protected] Pickford M., Attia Y. S. & Abd El Ghany M. S. 2001. — Discovery of Prolibytherium magnieri Arambourg, 1961 (Artiodactyla, Climacoceratidae) in Egypt. Geodiversitas 23 (4) : 647-652. ABSTRACT While searching for fossils from Wadi Moghara in the collections of the Egyptian Geological Museum, the authors came across some undescribed remains of Prolibytherium magnieri Arambourg, 1961. A brain case with attached frontal appendages (CGM 82975) has some matrix adhering to the bone which indicates that it is most probably from Wadi Moghara, although KEY WORDS Artiodactyla, there is no documentary evidence as to its discovery locus. Some mandible Ruminantia, fragments and postcranial elements which can be assigned to Prolibytherium Climacoceratidae, Arambourg, 1961 on the basis of their size were collected from Wadi early Miocene, Egypt, Moghara by R. Fourtau and others prior to 1920, but have remained undes- biochronology. cribed. The fossils are sufficiently interesting to warrant description. GEODIVERSITAS • 2001 • 23 (4) © Publications Scientifiques du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris. www.mnhn.fr/publication/ 647 Pickford M., Attia Y. S. & Abd El Ghany M. S. RÉSUMÉ Découverte de Prolibytherium magnieri Arambourg, 1961 (Artiodactyla, Climacoceratidae) en Égypte. En recherchant des fossiles du Wadi Moghara dans les collections de l’Egyptian Geological Museum, les auteurs ont découvert des restes inédits de Prolibytherium magnieri Arambourg, 1961.
    [Show full text]
  • AN AMERICAN FOSSIL GIRAFFE Giraffa Nebrascensis, Sp. Nov
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum, University of Nebraska State Museum 1925 AN AMERICAN FOSSIL GIRAFFE irG affa nebrascensis, sp. nov. W. D. Matthew E. H. Barbour Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/museumbulletin Part of the Entomology Commons, Geology Commons, Geomorphology Commons, Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Paleobiology Commons, Paleontology Commons, and the Sedimentology Commons This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Museum, University of Nebraska State at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. BULLETIN 4 VOLUME 1 APRIL 1925 THE NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM ERWIN H. BARBOUR, Director AN AMERICAN FOSSIL GIRAFFE Giraffa nebrascensis, sp. nov. By W. D. MATTHEW E. H. BARBOUR A fragment of the lower jaw of a large fossil mammal with two well-worn teeth was dug up in June 1918, at a depth of 20 feet, while digging a cess pool at Bradshaw, York County, Nebraska. This unique specimen, accessioned 7-7-18, was brought to the Nebraska State Museum by A. Archie Dorsey, and was donated by C. B. Palmet, both of Bradshaw. It undoubtedly occurred in loess, which is thickly as well. as extensively de­ veloped in this region. It is a ruminant jaw, the teeth preserved being P4 and m 1 • The characteristic pattern of the premolar excludes refer­ ence to the Bovidae, and leaves the choice between the Gi­ raffidae, Pa~aeomerycidae, and certain large Cervidae.
    [Show full text]
  • Pliocene (Latest Hemphillian and Blancan) Vertebrate Fossils from the Mangas Basin, Southwestern New Mexico
    Lucas, S.G., Estep, J.W., Williamson, T.E. and Morgan, G.S. eds., 1997, New Mexico's Fossil Record 1. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin No. 11. 97 PLIOCENE (LATEST HEMPHILLIAN AND BLANCAN) VERTEBRATE FOSSILS FROM THE MANGAS BASIN, SOUTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO Gary S. Morgan!, Paul L. Sealey!, Spencer G. Lucas!, and Andrew B. Heckerf 1 New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, 1801 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104; 2 Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131 ABSTRACT-Two vertebrate faunas of Pliocene age, the Walnut Canyon and Buckhorn local faunas, are described from sediments of the Gila Group in the Mangas basin in northern Grant County, southwestern New Mexico. Stratigraphic sections and lithologic descriptions are provided for the three unnamed formations in the upper part of the Gila Group that produced these two faunas. The Walnut Canyon local fauna includes one major locality, the Walnut Canyon Horse Quarry, and three smaller sites located 5 km southeast of Gila. The fauna is composed of 12 species of mammals, including one lagomorph, one rodent, two carnivores, two horses, one peccary, three camels, one cervid, and one antilocaprid. The most common members of the fauna are the equids Astrohippus stockii and Dinohippus mexicanus and two genera of camelids (Hemiauchenia and Alforjas). The remaining species in the fauna are represented by very small samples. A. stockii, D. mexicanus, the canid Vulpes stenognathus, the tayassuid d. Catagonus brachydontus, and the camelid Alforjas are typical of late Hemphillian (late Miocene and early Pliocene) faunas.
    [Show full text]