Cranial Morphology and Phylogenetic Relationships of Trigonostylops Wortmani, an Eocene South American Native Ungulate

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Cranial Morphology and Phylogenetic Relationships of Trigonostylops Wortmani, an Eocene South American Native Ungulate CRANIAL MORPHOLOGY AND PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF TRIGONOSTYLOPS WORTMANI, AN EOCENE SOUTH AMERICAN NATIVE UNGULATE R.D.E. MACPHEE, SANTIAGO HERNÁNDEZ DEL PINO, ALEJANDRO KRAMARZ, ANALÍA M. FORASIEPI, MARIANO BOND, AND R. BENJAMIN SULSER BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CRANIAL MORPHOLOGY AND PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF TRIGONOSTYLOPS WORTMANI, AN EOCENE SOUTH AMERICAN NATIVE UNGULATE R.D.E. MacPHEE Department of Mammalogy/Vertebrate Zoology and Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History SANTIAGO HERNÁNDEZ DEL PINO IANIGLA, CCT-CONICET Mendoza, Argentina ALEJANDRO KRAMARZ Sección Paleontología de Vertebrados, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina ANALÍA M. FORASIEPI IANIGLA, CCT-CONICET Mendoza, Argentina MARIANO BOND Departamento Científico de Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, 1900 La Plata, Argentina R. BENJAMIN SULSER Department of Mammalogy/Vertebrate Zoology and Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Number 449, 183 pp., 42 figures, 6 tables Issued April 19, 2021 Copyright © American Museum of Natural History 2021 ISSN 0003-0090 CONTENTS Abstract.............................................................................5 Introduction.........................................................................5 Materials and Methods................................................................7 Comparative Set...................................................................7 Trigonostylops and Astrapotheriidae: Physical Status of Selected Specimens .............7 Trigonostylops wortmani AMNH VP-28700 .....................................7 Other Trigonostylops Specimens ................................................8 Astrapotheriid Specimens ....................................................15 Agenda..........................................................................16 Method of Description..........................................................16 Use of Indicia ...............................................................16 Cerebral and Vascular Reconstruction..........................................16 Nomenclature...............................................................24 Comparative Cranial Morphology of Trigonostylops......................................24 Interpreting Vasculature ...........................................................24 Arteries ......................................................................26 Internal Carotid Artery ......................................................26 External Carotid Artery ......................................................28 Occipital and Vertebral Arteries ..............................................33 Arteria Diploetica Magna.....................................................35 Veins . 35 Emissary and Diploic Veins...................................................37 Caudodorsal Array ..........................................................38 Rostroventral Array..........................................................46 Cerebrospinal Venous System .................................................46 Interpreting Pneumatization .......................................................51 Ontogeny of Cranial Pneumatization .............................................51 Frontal Sinus Development . .61 Palatal Diverticulum of Maxillary Palatine Process...............................61 Epitympanic Sinus, Extratympanic Sinus, and Other Pneumatic Spaces ...............65 Rostral Cranium and Mesocranium .................................................69 Dentition and Upper Jaw........................................................69 Major Dental Features of Trigonostylops Compared to Other SANUs ...............69 Absence of Upper Incisors and Identification of Canines .........................73 Palatal, Facial, and Nasal Regions ................................................75 Palatal Architecture . .75 Palatal Alate Process ......................................................75 Premaxillae ..............................................................77 Frontals .................................................................80 Infraorbital Foramina . .80 Nasals ...................................................................81 Choanae .................................................................81 Orbital and Infratemporal Regions ...............................................82 Orbit and Orbital Mosaic ..................................................83 2 2021 MacPHEE ET AL.: TRIGONOSTYLOPS MORPHOLOGY AND RELATIONSHIPS 3 Cranioorbital Sulcus and Ethmoidal Foramen ................................83 Lacrimal Foramen and Jugal ...............................................84 Sphenoorbital Fissure .....................................................85 Sulcus and Foramen for Maxillary Nerve and Vessels ..........................85 Foramen for Malar Artery .................................................85 Sphenopalatine Foramen...................................................86 Greater and Lesser Palatine Nerves and Vessels . .86 Caudal Cranium..................................................................87 Basicranial Foramina and Related Features ........................................87 Continuous Basicapsular Fenestra and Transiting Structures....................87 Retroarticular Foramen and Glaserian Fissure ................................90 Caudal Carotid Incisure/Foramen...........................................90 Promontorial Vascular Features.............................................91 Rostral Carotid Incisure/Foramen...........................................93 Caudal Aperture of Pterygoid Canal.........................................94 Stylomastoid Incisure/Foramen .............................................95 Tympanic Aperture of the Prootic Canal .....................................95 Canal X . .97 Trackways for Ventral and Dorsal Petrosal Sinuses ............................97 Hypoglossal Foramen . .97 Posttemporal Vascular Complex ............................................99 Tympanic Floor and Related Features.............................................99 Petrosal in Tympanic Floor .............................................. 100 Ectotympanic .......................................................... 100 Other Features of Tympanic Floor ........................................ 101 Tympanic Roof and Related Features ........................................... 101 Petrosal in Tympanic Roof ............................................... 101 Paracondylar Process, Hyoid Recess, and Tympanohyal ...................... 101 Lambdoidal Process of Petrosal ........................................... 102 Sagittal Crest and Temporal Crests ........................................ 102 Interparietal............................................................ 103 Neurological and Associated Structures ......................................... 103 Brain Endocasts . 103 Cranial Nerves . 106 Auditory Apparatus .......................................................... 106 Osseous Labyrinth . 106 Stapes ................................................................. 112 Discussion: Indicial and Morphological Interpretation ................................. 113 Vascular Indicia ................................................................ 113 Arterial Structures . 113 Venous Structures............................................................ 119 Pneumatization Indicia.......................................................... 129 Phylogenetic Analyses . 131 Placing Trigonostylops . 131 Trigonostylops in the Context of SANU Evolution................................... 134 4 BULLETIN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY NO. 449 Acknowledgments................................................................. 136 References........................................................................ 136 Appendix 1. Glossary and Notes .................................................... 148 Appendix 2. Entotympanics, Vasculature, and Other Features of the Caudal Cranium of Extant Perissodactylans .................................................................. 157 Appendix 3. Character List ......................................................... 173 Appendix 4. Character/Taxon Matrix ................................................ 182 Reconstruction of Trigonostylops wortmani by Jorge Blanco. ABSTRACT In 1933 George G. Simpson described a remarkably complete skull of Trigonostylops, an Eocene South American native ungulate (SANU) whose relationships were, in his mind, quite uncertain. Although some authorities, such as Florentino Ameghino and William B. Scott, thought that a case could be made for regarding Trigonostylops as an astrapothere, Simpson took a different position, emphasizing what would now be regarded as autapomorphies. He pointed out a number of features of the skull of Trigonostylops that he thought were not represented in other major clades of SANUs, and regarded these as evidence of its phyletic uniqueness. Arguing that the lineage that Trigonosty- lops represented must have departed at an early point from lineages that gave rise to other SANU orders, Simpson reserved the possibility that Astrapotheriidae might still qualify (in modern terms) as its sister group. Even so, he argued that the next logical step was to place Trigonostylops and its few known allies in a separate
Recommended publications
  • Mioceno Tardío) De Entre Ríos, Argentina
    Rev. bras. paleontol. 18(3):521-546, Setembro/Dezembro 2015 © 2015 by the Sociedade Brasileira de Paleontologia doi: 10.4072/rbp.2015.3.14 ACTUALIZACIÓN SISTEMÁTICA Y FILOGENIA DE LOS PROTEROTHERIIDAE (MAMMALIA, LITOPTERNA) DEL “MESOPOTAMIENSE” (MIOCENO TARDÍO) DE ENTRE RÍOS, ARGENTINA GABRIELA INÉS SCHMIDT Laboratorio de Paleontología de Vertebrados, Centro de Investigaciones Científi cas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción (CICYTTP-CONICET), Materi y España (E3105BWA), Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina. [email protected] ABSTRACT – SYSTEMATIC UPDATE AND PHYLOGENY OF THE PROTEROTHERIIDAE (MAMMALIA, LITOPTERNA) FROM THE “MESOPOTAMIENSE” (LATE MIOCENE) OF ENTRE RÍOS PROVINCE, ARGENTINA. A systematic update of the species of Proterotheriidae (Litopterna) from the “Mesopotamiense” of Entre Ríos Province (Argentina) is performed, and their phylogenetic relationships with other members of the family are tested. Brachytherium cuspidatum Ameghino is validated (considered nomen dubium hitherto) and a sexual dimorphism is proposed for this species. This idea is based on metric, but not morphological, differences among the specimens included in it, which is supported by a discriminant analysis. Neobrachytherium ameghinoi Soria and Proterotherium cervioides Ameghino are also valid, and Epitherium? eversus (Ameghino) is assigned to the genus Diadiaphorus. Detailed descriptions of the specimens are presented for each taxon, and their diagnosis are revised. Key words: Proterotheriidae, Ituzaingó Formation, Entre Ríos Province, systematics, phylogeny. RESUMO – Uma atualização sistemática, das espécies de Proterotheriidae (Litopterna) presentes no “Mesopotamiense” da Província de Entre Ríos, Argentina, é realizada, bem como são testadas as suas relações fi logenéticas com outros integrantes da família. Brachytherium cuspidatum (previamente considerada nomen dubium) é revalidada, e um dimorfi smo sexual é proposto para esta espécie.
    [Show full text]
  • Why Should We Report Posterior Fossa Emissary Veins?
    Diagn Interv Radiol 2014; 20:78–81 NEURORADIOLOGY © Turkish Society of Radiology 2014 PICTORIAL ESSAY Why should we report posterior fossa emissary veins? Yeliz Pekçevik, Rıdvan Pekçevik ABSTRACT osterior fossa emissary veins pass through cranial apertures and par- Posterior fossa emissary veins are valveless veins that pass ticipate in extracranial venous drainage of the posterior fossa dural through cranial apertures. They participate in extracranial ve- sinuses. These emissary veins are usually small and asymptomatic nous drainage of the posterior fossa dural sinuses. The mas- P toid emissary vein, condylar veins, occipital emissary vein, in healthy people. They protect the brain from increases in intracranial and petrosquamosal sinus are the major posterior fossa emis- pressure in patients with lesions of the neck or skull base and obstructed sary veins. We believe that posterior fossa emissary veins can internal jugular veins (1). They also help to cool venous blood circulat- be detected by radiologists before surgery with a thorough understanding of their anatomy. Describing them using tem- ing through cephalic structures (2). Emissary veins may be enlarged in poral bone computed tomography (CT), CT angiography, patients with high-flow vascular malformations or severe hypoplasia or and cerebral magnetic resonance (MR) venography exam- inations results in more detailed and accurate preoperative aplasia of the jugular veins. They are associated with craniofacial syn- radiological interpretation and has clinical importance. This dromes (1, 3). Dilated emissary veins may cause tinnitus (4, 5). pictorial essay reviews the anatomy of the major and clini- We aim to emphasize the importance of reporting posterior fossa em- cally relevant posterior fossa emissary veins using high-reso- lution CT, CT angiography, and MR venography images and issary veins prior to surgeries that are related to the posterior fossa and discusses the clinical importance of reporting these vascular mastoid region.
    [Show full text]
  • Chronostratigraphy of the Mammal-Bearing Paleocene of South America 51
    Thierry SEMPERE biblioteca Y. Joirriiol ofSoiiih Ainorirari Euirli Sciriin~r.Hit. 111. No. 1, pp. 49-70, 1997 Pergamon Q 1‘197 PublisIlcd hy Elscvicr Scicncc Ltd All rights rescrvcd. Printed in Grcnt nrilsin PII: S0895-9811(97)00005-9 0895-9X 11/97 t I7.ol) t o.(x) -. ‘Inshute qfI Human Origins, 1288 9th Street, Berkeley, California 94710, USA ’Orstom, 13 rue Geoffroy l’Angevin, 75004 Paris, France 3Department of Geosciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Absfract - Land mammal faunas of Paleocene age in the southern Andean basin of Bolivia and NW Argentina are calibrated by regional sequence stratigraphy and rnagnetostratigraphy. The local fauna from Tiupampa in Bolivia is -59.0 Ma, and is thus early Late Paleocene in age. Taxa from the lower part of the Lumbrera Formation in NW Argentina (long regarded as Early Eocene) are between -58.0-55.5 Ma, and thus Late Paleocene in age. A reassessment of the ages of local faunas from lhe Rfo Chico Formation in the San Jorge basin, Patagonia, southern Argentina, shows that lhe local fauna from the Banco Negro Infeiior is -60.0 Ma, mak- ing this the most ancient Cenozoic mammal fauna in South,America. Critical reevaluation the ltaboraí fauna and associated or All geology in SE Brazil favors lhe interpretation that it accumulated during a sea-level lowsland between -$8.2-56.5 Ma. known South American Paleocene land inammal faunas are thus between 60.0 and 55.5 Ma (i.e. Late Paleocene) and are here assigned to the Riochican Land Maminal Age, with four subages (from oldest to youngest: Peligrian, Tiupampian, Ilaboraian, Riochican S.S.).
    [Show full text]
  • Evolutionary and Functional Implications of Incisor Enamel Microstructure Diversity in Notoungulata (Placentalia, Mammalia)
    Journal of Mammalian Evolution https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-019-09462-z ORIGINAL PAPER Evolutionary and Functional Implications of Incisor Enamel Microstructure Diversity in Notoungulata (Placentalia, Mammalia) Andréa Filippo1 & Daniela C. Kalthoff2 & Guillaume Billet1 & Helder Gomes Rodrigues1,3,4 # The Author(s) 2019 Abstract Notoungulates are an extinct clade of South American mammals, comprising a large diversity of body sizes and skeletal morphologies, and including taxa with highly specialized dentitions. The evolutionary history of notoungulates is characterized by numerous dental convergences, such as continuous growth of both molars and incisors, which repeatedly occurred in late- diverging families to counter the effects of abrasion. The main goal of this study is to determine if the acquisition of high-crowned incisors in different notoungulate families was accompanied by significant and repeated changes in their enamel microstructure. More generally, it aims at identifying evolutionary patterns of incisor enamel microstructure in notoungulates. Fifty-eight samples of incisors encompassing 21 genera of notoungulates were sectioned to study the enamel microstructure using a scanning electron microscope. We showed that most Eocene taxa were characterized by an incisor schmelzmuster involving only radial enamel. Interestingly, derived schmelzmusters involving the presence of Hunter-Schreger bands (HSB) and of modified radial enamel occurred in all four late-diverging families, mostly in parallel with morphological specializations, such as crown height increase. Despite a high degree of homoplasy, some characters detected at different levels of enamel complexity (e.g., labial versus lingual sides, upper versus lower incisors) might also be useful for phylogenetic reconstructions. Comparisons with perissodactyls showed that notoungulates paralleled equids in some aspects related to abrasion resistance, in having evolved transverse to oblique HSB combined with modified radial enamel and high-crowned incisors.
    [Show full text]
  • Texto Completo Digital
    Naturalis Repositorio Institucional Universidad Nacional de La Plata http://naturalis.fcnym.unlp.edu.ar Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo Los lagartos continentales fósiles de la Argentina [excepto Iguania] Brizuela, Santiago Doctor en Ciencias Naturales Dirección: Albino, Adriana M. Co-dirección: Brandoni de Gasparini, Zulma Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo 2010 Acceso en: http://naturalis.fcnym.unlp.edu.ar/id/20120126000997 Esta obra está bajo una Licencia Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 4.0 Internacional Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) LOS LAGARTOS CONTINENTALES FÓSILES DE LA ARGENTINA (EXCEPTO IGUANIA) Tesis Doctoral Santiago Brizuela Directora Adriana M. Albino Co-Directora Zulma Brandoni de Gasparini Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo Universidad Nacional de La Plata - 2010 - fecha y lugar RESUMEN El trabajo llevado a cabo en la presente Tesis representa una puesta al día del registro fósil conocido de lagartos continentales (excepto Iguania) de Argentina, donde la identificación del material fue realizada empleando criterios modernos dentro de un marco cladístico y mediante el contraste directo con abundantes ejemplares actuales del grupo. Durante el desarrollo de la Tesis, se presenta en forma introductoria el marco sistemático y las relaciones filogenéticas de los lagartos, así como una actualización del registro conocido de lagartos fósiles en el mundo, y particularmente, en América del Sur y en Argentina. El objetivo general del trabajo de Tesis doctoral se resume en el estudio sistemático de los fósiles de lagartos continentales presentes en el territorio argentino bajo la consideración de las relaciones filogenéticas planteadas en la Tesis y basadas únicamente en caracteres osteológicos. Debido a que la mayor parte del material fósil estudiado corresponde a la familia Teiidae se describió escuetamente el cráneo del teido actual Tupinambis merianae.
    [Show full text]
  • Perissodactyla: Tapirus) Hints at Subtle Variations in Locomotor Ecology
    JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY 277:1469–1485 (2016) A Three-Dimensional Morphometric Analysis of Upper Forelimb Morphology in the Enigmatic Tapir (Perissodactyla: Tapirus) Hints at Subtle Variations in Locomotor Ecology Jamie A. MacLaren1* and Sandra Nauwelaerts1,2 1Department of Biology, Universiteit Antwerpen, Building D, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein, Wilrijk, Antwerp 2610, Belgium 2Centre for Research and Conservation, Koninklijke Maatschappij Voor Dierkunde (KMDA), Koningin Astridplein 26, Antwerp 2018, Belgium ABSTRACT Forelimb morphology is an indicator for order Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates). Modern terrestrial locomotor ecology. The limb morphology of the tapirs are widely accepted to belong to a single enigmatic tapir (Perissodactyla: Tapirus) has often been genus (Tapirus), containing four extant species compared to that of basal perissodactyls, despite the lack (Hulbert, 1973; Ruiz-Garcıa et al., 1985) and sev- of quantitative studies comparing forelimb variation in eral regional subspecies (Padilla and Dowler, 1965; modern tapirs. Here, we present a quantitative assess- ment of tapir upper forelimb osteology using three- Wilson and Reeder, 2005): the Baird’s tapir (T. dimensional geometric morphometrics to test whether bairdii), lowland tapir (T. terrestris), mountain the four modern tapir species are monomorphic in their tapir (T. pinchaque), and the Malayan tapir (T. forelimb skeleton. The shape of the upper forelimb bones indicus). Extant tapirs primarily inhabit tropical across four species (T. indicus; T. bairdii; T. terrestris; T. rainforest, with some populations also occupying pinchaque) was investigated. Bones were laser scanned wet grassland and chaparral biomes (Padilla and to capture surface morphology and 3D landmark analysis Dowler, 1965; Padilla et al., 1996). was used to quantify shape.
    [Show full text]
  • Revised Stratigraphy of Neogene Strata in the Cocinetas Basin, La Guajira, Colombia
    Swiss J Palaeontol (2015) 134:5–43 DOI 10.1007/s13358-015-0071-4 Revised stratigraphy of Neogene strata in the Cocinetas Basin, La Guajira, Colombia F. Moreno • A. J. W. Hendy • L. Quiroz • N. Hoyos • D. S. Jones • V. Zapata • S. Zapata • G. A. Ballen • E. Cadena • A. L. Ca´rdenas • J. D. Carrillo-Bricen˜o • J. D. Carrillo • D. Delgado-Sierra • J. Escobar • J. I. Martı´nez • C. Martı´nez • C. Montes • J. Moreno • N. Pe´rez • R. Sa´nchez • C. Sua´rez • M. C. Vallejo-Pareja • C. Jaramillo Received: 25 September 2014 / Accepted: 2 February 2015 / Published online: 4 April 2015 Ó Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Schweiz (SCNAT) 2015 Abstract The Cocinetas Basin of Colombia provides a made exhaustive paleontological collections, and per- valuable window into the geological and paleontological formed 87Sr/86Sr geochronology to document the transition history of northern South America during the Neogene. from the fully marine environment of the Jimol Formation Two major findings provide new insights into the Neogene (ca. 17.9–16.7 Ma) to the fluvio-deltaic environment of the history of this Cocinetas Basin: (1) a formal re-description Castilletes (ca. 16.7–14.2 Ma) and Ware (ca. 3.5–2.8 Ma) of the Jimol and Castilletes formations, including a revised formations. We also describe evidence for short-term pe- contact; and (2) the description of a new lithostratigraphic riodic changes in depositional environments in the Jimol unit, the Ware Formation (Late Pliocene). We conducted and Castilletes formations. The marine invertebrate fauna extensive fieldwork to develop a basin-scale stratigraphy, of the Jimol and Castilletes formations are among the richest yet recorded from Colombia during the Neogene.
    [Show full text]
  • Mammalia, Notoungulata), from the Eocene of Patagonia, Argentina
    Palaeontologia Electronica palaeo-electronica.org An exceptionally well-preserved skeleton of Thomashuxleya externa (Mammalia, Notoungulata), from the Eocene of Patagonia, Argentina Juan D. Carrillo and Robert J. Asher ABSTRACT We describe one of the oldest notoungulate skeletons with associated cranioden- tal and postcranial elements: Thomashuxleya externa (Isotemnidae) from Cañadón Vaca in Patagonia, Argentina (Vacan subage of the Casamayoran SALMA, middle Eocene). We provide body mass estimates given by different elements of the skeleton, describe the bone histology, and study its phylogenetic position. We note differences in the scapulae, humerii, ulnae, and radii of the new specimen in comparison with other specimens previously referred to this taxon. We estimate a body mass of 84 ± 24.2 kg, showing that notoungulates had acquired a large body mass by the middle Eocene. Bone histology shows that the new specimen was skeletally mature. The new material supports the placement of Thomashuxleya as an early, divergent member of Toxodon- tia. Among placentals, our phylogenetic analysis of a combined DNA, collagen, and morphology matrix favor only a limited number of possible phylogenetic relationships, but cannot yet arbitrate between potential affinities with Afrotheria or Laurasiatheria. With no constraint, maximum parsimony supports Thomashuxleya and Carodnia with Afrotheria. With Notoungulata and Litopterna constrained as monophyletic (including Macrauchenia and Toxodon known for collagens), these clades are reconstructed on the stem
    [Show full text]
  • Paleogene Pseudoglyptodont Xenarthrans from Central Chile and Argentine Patagonia
    PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CENTRAL PARK WEST AT 79TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10024 Number 3536, 18 pp., 4 figures October 19, 2006 Paleogene Pseudoglyptodont Xenarthrans from Central Chile and Argentine Patagonia 1 2 3 MALCOLM C. MCKENNA, ANDRE´ R. WYSS, AND JOHN J. FLYNN ABSTRACT Herein we describe a new, large-bodied species of Pseudoglyptodon, a close sloth ally, from volcaniclastic deposits of the Abanico (5 Coya-Machalı´) Formation of the central Chilean Andean Main Range. This species, P. chilensis, is a rare element of the Tinguiririca Fauna, on which the recently formalized Tinguirirican South American Land Mammal ‘‘Age’’ is founded, being known from just two specimens. The holotype of P. chilensis, a partial skull and largely complete mandibles (preserving seemingly complete upper and lower dentitions), is by far the best-preserved specimen referable to Pseudoglyptodon known. As such, this material permits a more refined phylogenetic placement of this enigmatic xenarthran than has been possible previously, with Pseudoglyptodon representing the proximal outgroup to the clade including the most recent common ancestor of Choelepus and Bradypus, plus all its descendants (i.e., crown clade sloths). A fragmentary specimen from Argentina is removed from Glyptatelus and referred to Pseudoglyptodon. Although this specimen is distinct from P. chilensis and other previously recognized species of Pseudoglyptodon, it offers too meager a basis for formally establishing a new name. Finally, phylogenetic definitions of the names Phyllophaga and Tardigrada are proposed. Historically these terms have been used largely interchangeably, but here we advocate linking the latter to the crown clade. 1 Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History ([email protected]).
    [Show full text]
  • American Museum Novitates
    AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES Number 3737, 64 pp. February 29, 2012 New leontiniid Notoungulata (Mammalia) from Chile and Argentina: comparative anatomy, character analysis, and phylogenetic hypotheses BRUCE J. SHOCKEY,1 JOHN J. FLYNN,2 DARIN A. CROFT,3 PHILLIP GANS,4 ANDRÉ R. WYSS5 ABSTRACT Herein we describe and name two new species of leontiniid notoungulates, one being the first known from Chile, the other from the Deseadan South American Land Mammal Age (SALMA) of Patagonia, Argentina. The Chilean leontiniid is from the lower horizons of the Cura-Mallín Formation (Tcm1) at Laguna del Laja in the Andean Main Range of central Chile. This new species, Colpodon antucoensis, is distinguishable from Patagonian species of Colpodon by way of its smaller I2; larger I3 and P1; sharper, V-shaped snout; and squarer upper premo- lars. The holotype came from a horizon that is constrained below and above by 40Ar/39Ar ages of 19.53 ± 0.60 and 19.25 ± 1.22, respectively, suggesting an age of roughly 19.5 Ma, or a little older (~19.8 Ma) when corrected for a revised age of the Fish Canyon Tuff standard. Either age is slightly younger than ages reported for the Colhuehuapian SALMA fauna at the Gran Bar- ranca. Taxa from the locality of the holotype of C. antucoensis are few, but they (e.g., the mylo- dontid sloth, Nematherium, and a lagostomine chinchillid) also suggest a post-Colhuehuapian 1Department of Biology, Manhattan College, New York, NY 10463; and Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History. 2Division of Paleontology, and Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History.
    [Show full text]
  • Resolving the Relationships of Paleocene Placental Mammals
    Biol. Rev. (2015), pp. 000–000. 1 doi: 10.1111/brv.12242 Resolving the relationships of Paleocene placental mammals Thomas J. D. Halliday1,2,∗, Paul Upchurch1 and Anjali Goswami1,2 1Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K. 2Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K. ABSTRACT The ‘Age of Mammals’ began in the Paleocene epoch, the 10 million year interval immediately following the Cretaceous–Palaeogene mass extinction. The apparently rapid shift in mammalian ecomorphs from small, largely insectivorous forms to many small-to-large-bodied, diverse taxa has driven a hypothesis that the end-Cretaceous heralded an adaptive radiation in placental mammal evolution. However, the affinities of most Paleocene mammals have remained unresolved, despite significant advances in understanding the relationships of the extant orders, hindering efforts to reconstruct robustly the origin and early evolution of placental mammals. Here we present the largest cladistic analysis of Paleocene placentals to date, from a data matrix including 177 taxa (130 of which are Palaeogene) and 680 morphological characters. We improve the resolution of the relationships of several enigmatic Paleocene clades, including families of ‘condylarths’. Protungulatum is resolved as a stem eutherian, meaning that no crown-placental mammal unambiguously pre-dates the Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary. Our results support an Atlantogenata–Boreoeutheria split at the root of crown Placentalia, the presence of phenacodontids as closest relatives of Perissodactyla, the validity of Euungulata, and the placement of Arctocyonidae close to Carnivora. Periptychidae and Pantodonta are resolved as sister taxa, Leptictida and Cimolestidae are found to be stem eutherians, and Hyopsodontidae is highly polyphyletic.
    [Show full text]
  • Dissertation on an OBSERVATIONAL STUDY COMPARING the EFFECT of SPHENOPALATINE ARTERY BLOCK on BLEEDING in ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGE
    Dissertation On AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY COMPARING THE EFFECT OF SPHENOPALATINE ARTERY BLOCK ON BLEEDING IN ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY Dissertation submitted to TAMIL NADU DR. M.G.R. MEDICAL UNIVERSITY CHENNAI For M.S.BRANCH IV (OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY) Under the guidance of DR. F ANTHONY IRUDHAYARAJAN, M.S., D.L.O Professor & HOD, Department of ENT & Head and Neck Surgery, Govt. Stanley Medical College, Chennai. GOVERNMENT STANLEY MEDICAL COLLEGE THE TAMILNADU DR. M.G.R. MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI-32, TAMILNADU APRIL 2017 CERTIFICATE This is to certify that this dissertation titled AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY COMPARING THE EFFECT OF SPHENOPALATINE ARTERY BLOCK ON BLEEDING IN ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY is the original and bonafide work done by Dr. NIGIL SREEDHARAN under the guidance of Prof Dr F ANTHONY IRUDHAYARAJAN, M.S., DLO Professor & HOD, Department of ENT & Head and Neck Surgery at the Government Stanley Medical College & Hospital, Chennai – 600 001, during the tenure of his course in M.S. ENT from July-2014 to April- 2017 held under the regulation of the Tamilnadu Dr. M.G.R Medical University, Guindy, Chennai – 600 032. Prof Dr F Anthony Irudhayarajan, M.S., DLO Place : Chennai Professor & HOD, Date : .10.2016 Department of ENT & Head and Neck Surgery Government Stanley Medical College & Hospital, Chennai – 600 001. Dr. Isaac Christian Moses M.D, FICP, FACP Place: Chennai Dean, Date : .10.2016 Govt.Stanley Medical College, Chennai – 600 001. CERTIFICATE BY THE GUIDE This is to certify that this dissertation titled “AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY COMPARING THE EFFECT OF SPHENOPALATINE ARTERY BLOCK ON BLEEDING IN ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY” is the original and bonafide work done by Dr NIGIL SREEDHARAN under my guidance and supervision at the Government Stanley Medical College & Hospital, Chennai – 600001, during the tenure of his course in M.S.
    [Show full text]