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Kargopoulos N, Valenciano A, Abella J, Kampouridis P, Lechner T, Böhme M. The exceptionally high diversity of small carnivorans from the Late Miocene hominid locality of Hammerschmiede (Bavaria, Germany). PLoS One 2022; 17:e0268968. [PMID: 35830447 PMCID: PMC9278789 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study deals with new material of carnivorans (Mustelidae, Mephitidae, Ailuridae, Potamotheriinae and Viverridae) from the basal Tortonian (Late Miocene, late Astaracian) hominid-bearing locality of Hammerschmiede (Bavaria, Germany). The small carnivoran fauna includes 20 species belonging to nine different subfamilies (Guloninae, Lutrinae, Mellivorinae, Potamotheriinae, Leptarctinae, Mephitinae, Simocyoninae, Genettinae and Viverrinae). The identified forms include: "Martes" sansaniensis, "Martes" cf. munki, "Martes" sp., Circamustela hartmanni n. sp., Laphyctis mustelinus, Guloninae indet., Eomellivora moralesi, Vishnuonyx neptuni, Paralutra jaegeri, Lartetictis cf. dubia, Trocharion albanense, Palaeomeles pachecoi, Proputorius sansaniensis, Proputorius pusillus, Alopecocyon goeriachensis, Simocyoninae indet., Potamotherium sp., Semigenetta sansaniensis, Semigenetta grandis and Viverrictis modica. The new species Circamustela hartmanni n. sp. is differentiated from the other members of the genus by its small size and the morphology of its dental cusps in the upper and lower carnassials. This is one of the highest reported taxonomic diversities for fossil small carnivorans in the Miocene of Europe, including also first and last occurrences for several genera and species. Additionally, the assemblage comprises some rare taxa such as Palaeomeles pachecoi and Eomellivora moralesi. An ecomorphological comparison of the discovered taxa reveals possible cases of competition and niche partitioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Kargopoulos
- Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Alberto Valenciano
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza and Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales de Aragón (IUCA), Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Research and Exhibitions Department, Iziko Museums of South Africa, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Juan Abella
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Panagiotis Kampouridis
- Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Lechner
- Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment (HEP), Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Madelaine Böhme
- Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment (HEP), Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
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Abstract
Abstract
The subspecies concept is one of the most controversial in Linnean taxonomy. In the past, subspecies were described without a clear conceptual framework, triggering confusion and motivating criticism of the very concept of a subspecies. At present, subspecies are conceived as aggregates of populations that are geographically isolated, are composed of interfertile individuals, and are morphologically diagnosable. The tayra, Eira barbara, was described in 1758 and has had a stable taxonomic history at the species level. However, below the species level, 16 subspecies have been named, with from two to seven subspecies recognized as valid by different authors. None of the subspecies were, however, described within a clear conceptual framework. Using the modern concept of a subspecies, I analyzed subspecies of E. barbara recognized by recent authors. I gathered morphometric data from 155 specimens in mammal collections, georeferenced each specimen, and recorded membership to subspecies assigned by different references and by its location. I gathered climate and geographic data for each location. I analyzed data using Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Specimens exhibited sexual dimorphism in size but not in skull shape. I used regression analysis to test for associations between skull shape and size and climate data. Geographic analyses documented that subspecies are not allopatric, violating one of the main properties of the subspecies concept. ANOVA showed significant differences in skull morphology between some pairs of recognized subspecies but not others. However, none of the subspecies segregated in the PCA. Thus, the recognized subspecies could not be diagnosed from morphological data, violating another property of the subspecies concept. Size varied greatly between the sexes using different schemes for recognized subspecies. Climate variables explained between 4% and 6% of size variation for males and females. Skull shape proved not to be geographically variable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Ignacio Schiaffini
- CIEMEP, Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), LIEB, Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Evolución y Biodiversidad. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
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Valenciano A, Govender R. New insights into the giant mustelids (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from Langebaanweg fossil site (West Coast Fossil Park, South Africa, early Pliocene). PeerJ 2020; 8:e9221. [PMID: 32547866 PMCID: PMC7271888 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Giant mustelids are a paraphyletic group of mustelids found in the Neogene of Eurasia, Africa and North America. Most are known largely from dental remains, with their postcranial skeleton mostly unknown. Here, we describe new craniodental and postcranial remains of the large lutrine Sivaonyx hendeyi and the leopard-size gulonine Plesiogulo aff. monspessulanus from the early Pliocene site Langebaanweg, South Africa. The new material of the endemic S. hendeyi, includes upper incisors and premolars, and fragmentary humerus, ulna and a complete astragalus. Its postcrania shares more traits with the living Aonyx capensis than the late Miocene Sivaonyx beyi from Chad. Sivaonyx hendeyi could therefore be tentatively interpreted as a relatively more aquatic taxon than the Chadian species, comparable to A. capensis. The new specimens of Plesiogulo comprise two edentulous maxillae, including one of a juvenile individual with incomplete decidual dentition, and a fragmentary forelimb of an adult individual. The new dental measurements point to this form being amongst the largest specimens of the genus. Both P3-4 differs from the very large species Plesiogulo botori from late Miocene of Kenya and Ethiopia. This confirms the existence of two distinct large species of Plesiogulo in Africa during the Mio/Pliocene, P. botori in the Late Miocene of Eastern Africa (6.1–5.5 Ma) and Plesiogulo aff. monspessulanus at the beginning of the Pliocene in southern Africa (5.2 Ma). Lastly, we report for the first time the presence of both Sivaonyx and Plesiogulo in MPPM and LQSM at Langebaanweg, suggesting that the differences observed from the locality may be produced by sedimentation or sampling biases instead of temporal replacement within the carnivoran guild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Valenciano
- Department of Research and Exhibitions, Iziko Museums of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Biological Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Romala Govender
- Department of Research and Exhibitions, Iziko Museums of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Biological Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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New Early Miocene Material of Iberictis, the Oldest Member of the Wolverine Lineage (Carnivora, Mustelidae, Guloninae). J MAMM EVOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-018-9445-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Ercoli MD, Álvarez A, Busker F, Morales MM, Julik E, Smith HF, Adrian B, Barton M, Bhagavatula K, Poole M, Shahsavan M, Wechsler R, Fisher RE. Myology of the Head, Neck, and Thoracic Region of the Lesser Grison (Galictis cuja) in Comparison with the Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) and Other Carnivorans: Phylogenetic and Functional Implications. J MAMM EVOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-016-9339-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Valenciano A, Baskin JA, Abella J, Pérez-Ramos A, Álvarez-Sierra MÁ, Morales J, Hartstone-Rose A. Megalictis, the Bone-Crushing Giant Mustelid (Carnivora, Mustelidae, Oligobuninae) from the Early Miocene of North America. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0152430. [PMID: 27054570 PMCID: PMC4824437 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe cranial and mandibular remains of three undescribed individuals of the giant mustelid Megalictis ferox Matthew, 1907 from the latest Arikareean (Ar4), Early Miocene mammal fauna of Nebraska, and Wyoming (USA) housed at the American Museum of Natural History (New York, USA). Our phylogenetic hypothesis indicates that Ar4 specimens assigned to M. ferox constitute a monophyletic group. We assign three additional species previously referred to Paroligobunis to Megalictis: M. simplicidens, M. frazieri, and "M." petersoni. The node containing these four species of Megalictis and Oligobunis forms the Oligobuninae. We test the hypothesis that Oligobuninae (Megalictis and Oligobunis) is a stem mustelid taxon. Our results indicate that the Oligobuninae form the sister clade to the crown extant mustelids. Based on the cranium, M. ferox is a jaguar-size mustelid and the largest terrestrial mustelid known to have existed. This new material also sheds light on a new ecomorphological interpretation of M. ferox as a bone-crushing durophage (similar to hyenas), rather than a cat-like hypercarnivore, as had been previously described. The relative large size of M. ferox, together with a stout rostrum and mandible made it one of the more powerful predators of the Early Miocene of the Great Plains of North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Valenciano
- Departamento de Geología Sedimentaria y Cambio Medioambiental, Instituto de Geociencias (CSIC, UCM), Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Paleontología UCM, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas UCM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jon A. Baskin
- Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, United States of America
| | - Juan Abella
- Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, La Libertad, Santa Elena, Ecuador
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici ICP, Campus de la UAB, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alejandro Pérez-Ramos
- Departamento de Ecología y Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - M. Ángeles Álvarez-Sierra
- Departamento de Geología Sedimentaria y Cambio Medioambiental, Instituto de Geociencias (CSIC, UCM), Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Paleontología UCM, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas UCM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Morales
- Departamento de Paleobiología. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adam Hartstone-Rose
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Anthropology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States of America
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Mitochondrial genomes reveal the pattern and timing of marten (Martes), wolverine (Gulo), and fisher (Pekania) diversification. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2014; 80:156-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Revised: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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