Raymond Bernor | Howard University (original) (raw)

Papers by Raymond Bernor

Vertebrate paleobiology and paleoanthropology series, 2023

Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 2004

A recently discovered distal humerus shows that very large bodied amphicyonids existed in Pakista... more A recently discovered distal humerus shows that very large bodied amphicyonids existed in Pakistan in the Early Miocene. Movements on their elbow joint are interpreted to be very similar to those of modern bears. They had powerful front limbs, which were probably used to grasp the prey. Taxonomic affinities of the specimen are also discussed.

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 2021

The monodactyl horses of the genusEquusoriginated in North America during the Pliocene, and from ... more The monodactyl horses of the genusEquusoriginated in North America during the Pliocene, and from the beginning of the Pleistocene, they have been an essential part of the large ungulate communities of Europe, North America and Africa. Understanding how body size ofEquusspecies evolved and varied in relation to changes in environments and diet thus forms an important part of understanding the dynamics of ungulate body size variation in relation to Pleistocene paleoenvironmental changes. Here we test previously published body mass estimation equations for the family Equidae by investigating how accurately different skeletal and dental measurements estimate the mean body mass (and body mass range) reported for extant Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi) and Burchell's zebra (Equus quagga). Based on these tests and information on how frequently skeletal elements occur in the fossil record, we construct a hierarchy of best practices for the selection of body mass estimation equations inE...

Palaeontographica Abteilung A, 2013

Fossil Mammals of Asia, 2013

Cenozoic Mammals of Africa, 2010

Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 2000

The Pliocene locality of Gülyazi, referred to European Mammal Neogene Zone (MN) 16 b, has yielded... more The Pliocene locality of Gülyazi, referred to European Mammal Neogene Zone (MN) 16 b, has yielded limited material of an advanced, and provincially late occurring hipparionine horse, “Plesiohipparion” aff. huangheense . Morphologic characterization initially using 50 skull and mandible characters has led us to identify this hipparion as being a member of the “Sivalhippus” Complex (sensu lato). A cladistic analysis using 33 characters has yielded a single most parsimonious tree with a high consistency index (C. I. = 83), clarifying “Plesiohip p a r io n ” h u a n gh e en s e ’ systematic position. Results of the cladistic analysis lead us to hypothe size that the Gülyazi hipparion represents a medial Pliocene extension of an east Asian species into western Anatolia. Furthermore, our analysis suggests that species belonging to the “Sivalhippus” Complex ranged circa 9.5-1 Ma, and underwent 3 major intercontinental biogeographic extensions: the first, ca. 8 — 5.5 Ma (“Sivalhippus” p e...

Rivista Italiana Di Paleontologia E Stratigrafia, Apr 26, 2022

The Cioburciu hipparions, Republic of Moldova, are included in a Turolian assemblage, approximate... more The Cioburciu hipparions, Republic of Moldova, are included in a Turolian assemblage, approximately dated between 9 and 7 million years. We assess herein their taxonomic position, systematics, biogeography and paleodietary habits. We have undertaken standard equid measurements as well as accessing the Vera Eisenmann website for measurements and images and analysed craniodental and postcranial elements. This assemblage has been determined to be of a medium-sized hipparion with an elongated muzzle, well developed preorbital fossa that is dorsoventrally extensive and placed close to the orbit, lacking a caninus fossa and having a prominent and deep buccinator fossa. As such, this assemblage is referable to Cremohipparion moldavicum Gromova, 1952 common to the Western Ukraine, Balkans, Romania, Republic of Georgia, Turkey and Iran. We have employed a combination of gross cheek tooth wear morphology utilizing the mesowear method and a microscopic analysis of occlusal enamel scars utilizing the light microscope microwear technique. These complementary paleodietary methods indicate that these hipparions engaged in a mixed feeding dietary behavior and that the Cioburciu sample of C. moldavicum likely alternated its diet between browsing and grazing seasonally and/or regionally. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on average scratch and pit numbers positions this taxon among extant mixed feeding ungulates. Large pitting and gouging assessed through the microwear technique indicates occasional consumption of relatively coarser foods than typical mixed feeders or grazers or grit-laden food just prior to death while mesowear indicates that this was not a lifetime habit.

StatPearls, Jul 22, 2021

The pericardiacophrenic artery and vein make up, with the phrenic nerve, the pericardiacophrenic ... more The pericardiacophrenic artery and vein make up, with the phrenic nerve, the pericardiacophrenic neurovascular bundle. The vessels pass through superior thoracic aperture into the superior mediastinum and course along the pathway of the phrenic nerve anterior to the lung roots. The vessels are located between the fibrous pericardium and the parietal pleura in the middle mediastinum and extend inferiorly onto the dome of the diaphragm.The pericardiacophrenic artery supplies blood to the pericardium, diaphragm, and phrenic nerve. While the pericardiacophrenic arteries supply blood to these various tissues, and they are a non-coronary arterial collateral blood supply to the heart. Their most important role clinically is to supply the phrenic nerve with blood when harvesting or surgically anastomosing the internal thoracic artery, as in CABG procedures, preserving blood flow in the pericardiacophrenic artery is important to prevent any ischemic damage to the phrenic nerve.The pericardiacophrenic veins are variable tributaries of the right and left brachiocephalic veins (also formerly known as the innominate veins) or internal thoracic veins. The pericardiacophrenic veins are a minor portocaval anastomosis connecting splenic vein and superior vena cava and can become engorged in portal hypertension. Imaging the pericardiacophrenic veins (or arteries) is a reliable aid in clinical procedures that require locating the phrenic nerve.

The discovery of a new hipparionine metacarpal III in 2010 has led to the recognition of the occu... more The discovery of a new hipparionine metacarpal III in 2010 has led to the recognition of the occurrence of the East African species Eurygnathohippus feibeli at Sahabi. Specimens of metacarpal III and metatarsal III previously referred to cf. Hipparion s.s. are reassigned herein to Eurygnathohippus feibeli. The occurrence of an East African hipparionine horse at Sahabi is congruent with findings of other Late Miocene ungulates and strengthens the biogeographic connections between the Sahabi and the Ethiopian Middle Awash and Kenyan Lothagam faunas. Taking into consideration the known biogeographic connections to eastern Mediterranean-Southwest Asia faunas, the Sahabi findings constitute a crucial crossroads fauna between Eurasia and Africa and reflect the maximum extension of Old World Pikermian faunas in the Late Miocene. RIASSUNTO-[Sulla presenza di Eurygnathohippus feibeli (Perissodactyla: Mammalia) nel Miocene Superiore di As Sahabi (Libya) e il suo significato biogeografico ed evoluzionistico]-Il ritrovamento di un nuovo terzo metacarpale di un equide ipparionino avvenuto nella missione del 2010 ci ha permesso di riconoscere la presenza a Sahabi della specie ad affinità est africana Eurygnathohippus feibeli. Lo studio del nuovo materiale consente di attribuire anche i resti di metacarpale III e metatarsale III, in precedenza attribuiti a cf. Hipparion s.s., alla specie Eurygnathohippus feibeli. La presenza di un equide ipparionino con affinità est africana a Sahabi è congruente con la co-presenza di altri ungulati del Miocene Superiore nell'associazione faunistica ed è una conferma delle connessioni biogeografiche tra Sahabi e le associazioni faunistiche del Middle Awash (Etiopia) e di Lothagam (Kenya). Tenendo conto delle affinità biogeografiche che Sahabi mostra di possedere anche con le regioni del Mediterraneo orientale e dell'Asia sudoccidentale, la località libica si conferma come importante crocevia faunistico tra Eurasia e Africa nel Miocene terminale, e rappresenta la massima estensione geografica delle faune "pikermiane" nel Miocene Superiore.

Bollettino Della Societa Paleontologica Italiana, 2017

We report here for the first time the occurrence in the Montopoli large mammal fossil assemblage ... more We report here for the first time the occurrence in the Montopoli large mammal fossil assemblage of a small equid taxon identified as "Hipparion" sp., associated to the monodactyl large horse Equus cf. livenzovensis. This occurrence has been recognised on a specimen that the late De Giuli (1938-1988) identified as Hipparion sp.

University of California Press eBooks, Dec 31, 2009

Geodiversitas, Mar 1, 2005

A morphometric analysis of third metapodials and first phalanges of Middle Awash and Hadar hippar... more A morphometric analysis of third metapodials and first phalanges of Middle Awash and Hadar hipparions dating from the 6.0-3.0 Ma interval was conducted using two methods. Morphological comparisons using standard metrics were made using: 1) log10 ratio diagrams; 2) size independent variables developed with reference to scaling trends for hipparions in general. Results of these analyses suggest that hipparion diversity during this temporal interval was relatively low. A single dominant gracile lineage of Eurygnathohippus Van Hoepen, 1930, most plausibly derived from the Lothagam (Kenya) species Eurygnathohippus feibeli (Bernor & Harris, 2003), would appear to have persisted throughout this interval and is marked by increases in size with measured change in metapodial and phalangeal morphology. Ararer, more robust form is found in the Ethiopian sample at 4.0 Ma and is morphometrically similar to Eurygnathohippus turkanense Hooijer & Maglio, 1973 from late Miocene horizons of Lothagam. Another smaller form, of uncertain systematic status, appears likely late in the Kada Hadar sequence, c. 3.0 Ma.

Journal of Human Evolution, Feb 1, 2022

We undertake a comparative mammalian zoogeographic analysis with the aim of revealing the extent ... more We undertake a comparative mammalian zoogeographic analysis with the aim of revealing the extent to which the Dmanisi Early Pleistocene large mammal assemblage resembles, at the genus level, African, Arabian, and Eurasian localities of similar age. The inclusion of Old World Pliocene and Pleistocene mammalian faunas provides us with insights into the provincial origins of specific mammalian taxa and permits us to assess the relative affiliation of the Dmanisi mammalian faunas to other faunas in the Old World. Our analysis also allows us to consider hypotheses about the timing and direction of zoogeographic connections between western Eurasia and Africa during the Early Pleistocene. We utilize multiple zoogeographic analytical tools as a cross-comparison of Dmanisi with 42 other Eurasian and African mammalian-bearing localities between 2.7 and 0.7 Ma. Overall, we find that Dmanisi compares most closely with a subgroup of Greek, Italian, and Spanish localities that are slightly younger than Dmanisi itself. This could suggest a progressive dispersal from East to West of the large mammal communities during the late Early Pleistocene and the first occurrence at Dmanisi, and then later in Western Europe, of some taxa such as Stephanorhinus ex gr. etruscus-hundsheimensis, Equus altidens, Bison georgicus, Soergelia minor, Megantereon whitei, Canis borjgali, Canis (Xenocyon) lycaonoides. Dmanisi's habitats included drier areas, probably of open wooded savannah and grassland and by mountainous to semiarid rocky terrain. There is evidence that Dmanisi records short intervals of increased aridity in the middle part of the succession contemporaneous with the occurrence of Homo.

Annales Zoologici Fennici, Apr 1, 2014

This study explores the extent to which researchers might be able to interpret a fauna's paleoeco... more This study explores the extent to which researchers might be able to interpret a fauna's paleoecology using mesowear analysis on ungulate maxillary molars when there are diverse taxa represented by few specimens. We compared our mesowear results on Maragheh ungulates with those of extant ungulates and with known mesowear score distributions of the two classical Greek Pikermian faunas of Samos and Pikermi, and with the late Miocene of China. The Maragheh equid and bovid species display a range of dietary abrasiveness, whereas the giraffids and chalicothere have fairly abrasive mesowear signals. Despite small sample sizes for some taxa, our results are consistent with long-held taxon-based interpretations of Maragheh paleoecology: a Pikermian woodland habitat. In addition, our results are consistent with climatic changes of the Paratethyan realm at the end of the Miocene.

Cambridge University Press eBooks, Oct 7, 1999