Rhinocerotidae from the early Miocene of the Negev (Israel) and implications for the dispersal of early Neogene rhinoceroses (original) (raw)
Related papers
The latest Miocene Rhinocerotidae from Sahabi (Libya)
Comptes Rendus Palevol
The Rhinocerotidae material from the latest Miocene of Sahabi (Libya) is here revised in detail in order to clarify its systematic position and the paleobiogeographic implications. The family is represented by four specimens only at Sahabi, a phalanx, a mandible, a second upper molar (M2), and a second upper premolar (P2). Except for the phalanx, which can be only identified at the family level, the morphology and the dimensions of these specimens have revealed the presence of three taxa: Aceratheriini vel Teleoceratina, Brachypotherium lewisi and 'Diceros' sp. The presence of the large-sized B. lewisi has been suggested in several papers, but without a detailed comparison or critical revision. The Brachypotherium from Sahabi also resembles Brachypotherium heinzelini, suggesting a probable synonymy between this species and B. lewisi. A P2 from Sahabi differs from several species belonging to Ceratotherium, including Ceratotherium neumayri, and it resembles the genus Diceros. The rhinoceros association (Brachypotherium and a dicerotine) recognized at Sahabi has been recorded at Lothagam (Kenya), suggesting a biogeographic affinity with the eastern Africa assemblage.
Journal of Human Evolution, 2010
This study presents the discovery of a right cercopithecine calcaneus from the site of 'Ubeidiya, Israel, dated to ca. 1.6 Ma. The fossil is described and statistically compared to bones of modern and fossil cercopithecids. The specimen can be attributed to a large-bodied cercopithecine and represents a new primate taxon previously unidentified in the Early Pleistocene of the Southern Levant. Among extant genera, it is most clearly similar to calcanei of Theropithecus. However, it could also represent Paradolichopithecus, but this alternative is unlikely due to the morphological uniqueness of the latter taxon. The finding of an African taxon in the Levant suggests a circum-Mediterranean dispersal route for the taxon out of Africa, and emphasizes the importance of the Levantine corridor as a biogeographic dispersal route between Africa and Eurasia during the Early Pleistocene. Evidence for the biogeography of large-bodied primates is essential for the understanding of the dispersal routes of ''Out of Africa I'' taxa and can help elucidate Homo dispersal patterns in the Early Pleistocene.
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010
Rhinocerotids are particularly abundant and diversified in Neogene deposits of the Indian subcontinent, but their systematics is far from being well defined. Based on the revision of old collections and new findings from the Early Miocene of the Bugti Hills and Zinda Pir, Pakistan, 'Aceratherium blanfordi Lydekker, 1884' is a chimera, consisting of two dentally convergent but postcranially distinct rhinocerotid taxa: Pleuroceros blanfordi and Mesaceratherium welcommi sp. nov. Postcranial features appear to be much more diagnostic than craniodental morphology in this case. A phylogenetic analysis based on 282 morphological characters scored for 28 taxa (four outgroups and ingroup including both taxa of interest and a 'branching group') strengthens this statement and supports Pleuroceros and Mesaceratherium as monophyletic genera within Rhinocerotinae. Both genera are recognized for the first time outside Europe. In the Bugti Hills, P. blanfordi and M. welcommi are part of an exceptionally diversified rhinocerotid fauna, with up to nine species associated in the same locality (Kumbi 4f). This rhinocerotid assemblage confirms the earliest Miocene age (Agenian/Aquitanian) of the upper member of the Chitarwata Formation as a whole. Coeval homotaxic rhinocerotid faunas from Europe (France, Czech Republic) and East Africa (Uganda, Kenya) support broad and sustainable rhinocerotid interchanges amongst South Asia, Europe, and Africa under compatible environmental conditions throughout earliest Miocene times.
First evidence of "ancient deer" (cervid) in the late Miocene Bira Formation, Northern Israel
PloS one, 2017
Despite the extensive geological and paleontological searches in the south Levant, no terrestrial fauna of late Neogene age was yet reported. Here, we report the first evidence of "ancient deer"-cervid in the late Miocene (Tortonian) lacustrine section of the Bira Formation at Hagal Stream, Jordan Valley, northern Israel. The section comprises rich assemblage of macrofauna fossils, mostly freshwater mollusks. The mammalian bone was discovered among the macrofauna fossils, and is described as an almost complete left humerus of an adult animal identified as an artiodactyls element probably of a cervid. This terrestrial mammal shares similar paleoenvironmental conditions with other contemporaneous localities, where cervids prevailed with bovids and other taxa. It appears that the freshwater lakes provided favorite habitat for the development of the cervids and possibly other mammals. The specific conditions of preservation of the cervid illuminate the role of post depositiona...
Late Pleistocene Holocene equids of Israel Zool-Jnl-Linnean-Soc-London 1980
Equid remains-mostly isolated teeth-from archaeological sites in Israel are described. Particular attention is paid to dental enamel fold morphology and criteria are established for separating several Old world Q.uaternary equid species. Equus hydruntinus, which is here considered a zebra rather than an ass, was present unti112,000 bp in northern Israel, while at the same time E. asinus/hemionus inhabited the arid regions in the south. Infrequent remains of E. caballus are also described. By 4000 years ago ass, probably the domestic form, was present in northern Israel.
New dental materialone left maxillary fragment with fourth premolar and complete series of molar (P4-M1-3) has been recovered form the Dhok Pathan type locality of the Dhok Pathan Formation in northern Pakistan. The material has been ascribed to the large Siwalik rhinocerotid Brachypotherium and the species B. cf. perimense. The Dhok Pathan assemblage is composed of the elements that are characteristic of the Late Miocene rhinocerotid fauna of the Siwaliks. The purpose of the paper is to provide more information about the large rhinocerotid fossil record in the Late Miocene deposits of the Siwaliks.
Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from the late Miocene of Akka ș da g˘ı, Turkey
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2005
More than 120 rhinocerotid remains unearthed in the middle Turolian locality of Akka ș dag ı(Central Anatolia) are described. The fauna is diversified, with a pair of large two-horned species, Ceratotherium neumayri (Osborn, 1900) and Stephanorhinus pikermiensis (Toula, 1906), and two smaller species of short limbed aceratheriines (Chilotherium sp. and Acerorhinus sp.). Ceratotherium neumayri is by far the most common species, with a complete skull, 114 specimens and at least 11 individuals. The cranial, dental and postcranial remains of C. neumayri are among the largest ones described so far for this species. The coexistence of C. neumayri , S. pikermiensis ,a nd chilotheres is common in the Turolian of Eastern Mediterranean: comparable rhinocerotid associations are known at Kavakdere (MN 12, Turkey) and Samos (MN 12, Greece). The large size of the C. neumayri specimens is consistent with the middle Turolian age for Akka ș dag˘ı(MN 12), as stated on the whole mammalian fauna and radiometric data. RÉSUMÉ Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) du Miocène supérieur d'Akka ș dag ı, Turquie. Plus de 120 restes de rhinocérotidés découverts dans le gisement Turolien moyen d'Akka ș dag ı (Anatolie centrale) sont décrits. La faune est diversifiée, avec deux espèces de grands rhinocéros bicornes, Ceratotherium neumayri (Osborn, 1900) et Stephanorhinus pikermiensis (Toula, 1906), et deux espèces
Article history: Available online xxx a b s t r a c t The site of 'Ubeidiya provides a unique paleontological record in the Early Pleistocene of the Levantine Corridor, with a rich faunal assemblage, as well as evidence for the presence of early hominins. This research presents a revision of the bovid record of the site found in the last seasons of excavations (1989e1999) as well as the previously published material. Five species of bovids have been identified [Bos oldowayensis, Bovini gen. et sp. indet. (cf. Bison sp.), Oryx sp., Antelopini gen. et sp. indet (cf. Pontoceros ambiguus/Spirocerus sp.), and Gazella sp. cf. Gazella gazella]. The paleoecological reconstruction of the site based on the bovid assemblages supported a non-homologous ecology not similar to any African environment today. This bovid assemblage is biochronologically compatible with previous ages proposed for the site based on the paleomagnetism and the carnivore guild, around 1.6e1.2 Ma.
New fossils of Gaindatherium (Rhinocerotidae, Mammalia) from the Middle Miocene of Pakistan
TURKISH JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES, 2014
New isolated teeth with maxillary and mandibular fragments from the Chinji Formation of the Lower Siwaliks are described and determined as Gaindatherium browni and Gaindatherium vidali. This material comes from the Middle Miocene of Lava and Dhok Bun Ameer Khatoon localities, northern Pakistan, and significantly increases the number of remains previously known for this rhinocerotid genus. Specimens from the Lava site determined as G. vidali present morphological differences with respect to those of G. browni, being similar to those of G. vidali from the Nagri Formation, showing a greater size. Previously, G. vidali was reported only from the Nagri Formation of the Middle Siwaliks and the new material thus significantly widens the chronological distribution of this species in the continental deposits of the Siwaliks. This record implies that both species are not successive but rather coeval during the late Middle Miocene.