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Volume 27.2
May–August 2024
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ISSN: 1094-8074, web version;
1935-3952, print version
Recent Research Articles
See all articles in 27.2 May-August 2024
See all articles in 27.1 January-April 2024
See all articles in 26.3 September-December 2023
Brent Adrian, M.F.A., Department of Anatomy, Midwestern University, 19555 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, Arizona, USA, 85308. badria@midwestern.edu
Brent Adrian is a palaeontologist and scientific illustrator who studies extant and fossil mammals and reptiles. He is particularly interested in the functional anatomy of rare extant mammals. He also studies turtle evolution and paleobiogeography and participates in field work at fossil sites in North America.
Lars Werdelin, Ph.D., Department of Palaeobiology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, SE-104 05, Stockholm, Sweden. werdelin@nrm.se
Lars Werdelin is a palaeontologist studying evolution, phylogeny, ecology, and conservation of mammalian carnivores, living and extinct, with special emphasis on African carnivores and their interaction with the evolving human lineage during the past 7 million years. He carries out research at all levels of abstraction, from describing fossils and new species, to carrying out phylogenetic analyses, to coming up with new ways to study community structure and faunal change. This work has been done in collaboration with numerous colleagues around the world. It has led to new insights into the impact of early humans on their environment and is supported by the Swedish Research Council (VR). He is also involved in field work in Africa and is currently collaborating on the Ledi-Geraru Research Project, collecting fossils, including the earliest Homo, from the Afar Region of Ethiopia. This work is carried out in collaboration with the Institute of Human Origins, Arizona State University and is funded by NSF and the Templeton Foundation.
Aryeh Grossman, Ph.D., Department of Anatomy, Midwestern University, 19555 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, Arizona, USA, 85308. agross@midwestern.edu
Aryeh Grossman is a palaeontologist whose primary interest is the evolution of modern African and Eurasian mammals. His work focuses on the composition and structure of mammal communities of the Early Miocene in Africa and the Middle East. The Early Miocene is the time period when many modern mammal taxa, including our own- the Hominoidea, first evolved. Mammal communities provide a wealth of information about local conditions and global climate, both of which play a major role in shaping evolution. He also teaches human anatomy to medical and other health sciences students, as well as clinical and comparative mammalian anatomy to veterinary students. In addition, he coordinates the anatomical labs outreach program which provides opportunities for enrichment to various students and professionals from outside of Midwestern University.
APPENDIX 1.
Modified dental character matrix from Morales and Pickford (2011), with Kichechia savagei sp. nov. added. This includes extant and fossil viverrid and herpestid species.
Kichechia zamanae 0111001110110000111010111
Kichechia savagei sp. nov. ?????????????100001011111
Ketketictis solida ????????????????0101000?1
Tugenictis ngororaensis ?????????????????011010?0
Herpestides aequatorialis ??11111??????1???1011000?
Paradoxurus hermaphroditus 1010111111101111101111011
Mioparadoxurus meini ????????????010?1011110?1
Pseudocivetta ingens ??10110011111001111111110
Orangictis gariepensis ????????????0001111010000
Crossarchus obscurus 1111001110010000000000000
APPENDIX 2.
Characters and dental states of lower dentition from selected species of Viverridae and Herpestidae, modified from Morales and Pickford (2011; appendix A).
Upper dentition
P3
1. Protocone; absence (0) presence (1)
2. Development of the metastyle (posterior cusplet); present (0) reduced (1)
P4
3. Occludal morphology; enlongated (0) short, triangular (1)
4. Size of the parastyle; absent or very small (0) strong (1)
5. Morphology of the metastyle; sectorial (0) bunodont (1)
6. Size of the protocone; medium sized (0) very developed (1)
7. Separation protocone-paracone; close (0) very separated (1)
M1
8. Development of the stylar area; moderate (0) very developed (1)
9. Morphology of the trigon valley; open (0) closed anteriorly (1)
10. Size and morphology of the protocone; conical, moderate size (0) bunodont, strong (1)
11. Morphology and size of the parastyle; sectorial, strong (1) reduced, non-sectorial (1)
M2
12. Size with respect to M1; small (0) big (1)
Lower dentition
p4
13. Height of the protoconid; high (0) low (1)
14. Size of the paraconid; weak (0) strong (1)
15. Development of the metaconid; absent (0) present (1)
16. Development of the entoconid; absent (0) present (1)
17. Development of a valley in the talonid; absent (0) present (1)
m1
18. Connection metaconid-protoconid; united by cristids (0) separated (1)
19. Height of the trigonid; high (0) low (1)
20. Morphology of the cusps in the trigonid-talonid; sectorial and/or sharp (0) bunodont (1)
21. Morphology of the posterior wall of the trigonid; vertical (0) inclined and with a recess in the trigonid valley (1)
22. Entoconid; absent (0) present (1)
23. Pre-entoconid; absent (0) present (1)
m2
24. Trigonid morphology; trigonid complete (0) reduction of cusplets (1)
25. Position of the metaconid in m1; more anterior than the protoconid (0) retired (1)
FIGURE 1. Known carnivoran localities in western Kenya and eastern Uganda.
FIGURE 2. Kichechia savagei sp. nov. 2.1-3: (top to bottom) lingual, buccal and occlusal views of right mandibular fragment with p2-m1, KNM-MO24 (holotype); 2.4-6: (top to bottom) lingual, buccal, and occlusal views of right mandibular fragment with m1-2, KNM-MO17118; 2.7-9: (top to bottom) lingual, buccal and occlusal views of right m1, KNM-MO18100B; 2.10-12: (top to bottom) lingual, buccal, and occlusal views of left mandibular fragment with p3-4, KNM-MO18100A; 2.13-15: (top to bottom) lingual, buccal and occlusal views of right mandibular fragment with m2 and broken m1, KNM-WK18084.
FIGURE 3.1. Scatter plot showing the lengths and widths (logarithmic scale, in mm) of the p4 and m1 of Kichechia savagei sp. nov. and Ki. zamanae. 3.2. Occlusal views of referred teeth in graph.
FIGURE 4. Phylogenetic tree using majority rule (50 %) consensus tree of 11 minimum length trees: Length = 37; Consistency Index (CI) = 0.59; Retention Index (RI) = 0.53. Nodes are indicated in red.
FIGURE 5.1. Cynelos macrodon. Occlusal view of left M1, NHMUK M19086 (Holotype) redrawn after Savage (1965: figure 55). 5.2-4: Mesial (left), mesiolingual (top right), and occlusal (bottom right) views of left M1, KNM-WK17074. 5.5-7: Lingual, buccal, and occlusal views of left p4, KNM-WK16984. 5.8-10: Lingual, buccal, and occlusal views of left P4, KNM-WK18196.
FIGURE 6.1-3. Indeterminate musteloid. (Top to bottom): lingual, buccal, and occlusal views of left maxillary fragment with P3-4, KNM-WK18099.
FIGURE 7.1-3. Katifelis nightingalei gen. et sp. nov. (Top to bottom): lingual, buccal, and occlusal views of left maxillary fragment, KNM-WK17133.
TABLE 1. Measurements of the lower dentition of specimens of Kichechia. All measurements by the authors except (*), measurements from Savage (1965).
Taxon | Site | Specimen | Lp2 | Wp2 | Lp3 | Wp3 | Lp4 | Wp4 | Lm1 | Wm1 | Lm2 | Wm2 |
Kichechia savagei s p. nov. | Moruorot | KNM-MO24 (holotype) | 3.4 | 1.9 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 5.1 | 2.8 | 5.6 | 3.6 | ||
Moruorot | KNM-MO17118 | 6.3 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.0 | |||||||
Moruorot | KNM-MO18100A | 4.2 | 2.5 | 5.2 | 3.1 | |||||||
Moruorot | KNM-MO18100B | 6.4 | 3.8 | |||||||||
Kalodirr | KNM-WK18084 | 6.1 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 2.9 | |||||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU2904 | 3.9 | 2.1 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 5.6 | 3.3 | |||||
Kichechia zamanae | Rusinga | KNM-RU2902 | 6.4 | 3.8 | ||||||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU2905 | 6.4 | 3.1 | |||||||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU2906 | 5.6 | 3.3 | 6.2 | 3.6 | |||||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU2907 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 4.6 | 2.7 | 5.6 | 3.1 | |||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU2909 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 6.5 | 3.7 | |||||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU2912 | 4.9 | 2.5 | |||||||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU2913 | 6.8 | 3.8 | |||||||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU2916 | 5.6 | 3.6 | |||||||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU2920 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 3.8 | 2.0 | |||||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU2921 | 7.1 | 3.7 | |||||||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU2922 | 4.6 | 2.5 | 5.6 | 2.5 | 6.5 | 3.4 | |||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU2923 | 5.9 | 3.6 | 3.8 | ||||||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU2924 | 4.3 | ||||||||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU2925 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 5.4 | 3.0 | |||||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU15997 | 4.6 | ||||||||||
Rusinga | KNM-RU--- (CMF4006) | 3.8 | 2.1 | 5.6 | 3.3 | 6.5 | 3.8 | |||||
Rusinga | NHMUK M19078 (holotype)* | 3.6 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 5.8 | 3.4 | |||||
Rusinga | NHMUK M19079* | 6.7 | 3.7 | |||||||||
Rusinga | NHMUK M19080* | 4.0 | 2.8 |
TABLE 2. Measurements (in mm) of discussed Felidae lower dentitions. All other measurements are by the authors.
Taxon | Site | Specimen | Lm1 | Wm1 | Lp4 | Wp4 |
Katifelis nightingalei gen. et sp. nov. | Kalodirr | KNM-WK17133 | 9.8 | 3.7 | 7.0 | 3.4 |
Asilifelis coteae | Rusinga | KNM-RU18349 | 7.4 | 2.8 | 5.5 | 2.4 |
Namafelis minor | Arrisdrift | AD 99’95 | 11.5 | 4.8 | 9.0 | 4.3 |
Diamantofelis ferox | Arrisdrift | AD 98’95 | 15.2 | 6.3 | 12.6 | 6.0 |
Styriofelis turnauensis | Vallès-Penedès | IPS41970 | 11.3 | 4.9 | --- | --- |
Vallès-Penedès | IPS42169 | 11.3 | 5.1 | --- | --- | |
Pseudaelurus romieviensis | Vallès-Penedès | IPS41973 | --- | --- | 12.8 | 6.3 |
Vallès-Penedès | IPS42063 | 16.3 | 7.5 | 12.8 | 6.3 | |
Vallès-Penedès | IPS60891 | --- | --- | 13.8 | 6.3 | |
Pseudaelurus quadridentatus | Vallès-Penedès | IPS60892b | 18.0 | 7.8 | --- | --- |
Vallès-Penedès | IPS60892c | 18.0 | 7.9 | 13.9 | 6.7 |
TABLE 3. Measurements (in mm) of amphicyonid cheek teeth; for Cynelos macrodon (NHMUK M19086) and Cynelos euryodon (NHMUK M19084) after Savage (1965); for Cynelos euryodon (CA-314) after Schmidt-Kittler (1987). All other measurements are by the authors.
Taxon | Specimen | L P4 | W P4 | L M1 | W M1 | L p4 | W p4 |
Cynelos macrodon | KNM-WK18196 | 21.1 | 11.0 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
KNM-WK16984 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 21.1 | 11.6 | |
KNM-WK17074 | --- | --- | 22.7 | 20.4 | --- | --- | |
KNM-RU2957 | --- | --- | 18.3 | --- | --- | --- | |
NHMUK M19086 | --- | --- | 20.5 | 24.2 | --- | --- | |
Cynelos euryodon | CA-314 | --- | --- | 17.1 | 20.0 | --- | --- |
NHMUK M19084 | 17.5 | 10.3 | 14.6 | 17.5 | --- | --- |
New Miocene Carnivora (Mammalia) from Moruorot and Kalodirr, Kenya
Plain Language Abstract
We provide detailed descriptions of fossil teeth of several extinct carnivorans from the Early Miocene (approximately 23.03 to 15.97 million years ago) of western Kenya. We describe a new species of civet, Kichechia savagei sp. nov., and a new genus and species of small cat Katifelis nightingalei gen. et sp. nov. We also describe new material of the bear dog Cynelos macrodon, as well as a large musteloid (weasels and otters) of unknown relationships. These findings broaden our understanding of the regional distribution of extinct carnivorans in the Early Miocene of eastern Africa.
Resumen en Español
Nuevos Carnivora (Mammalia) del Mioceno de Moruorot y Kalodirr, Kenia
Describimos nuevos fósiles de mamíferos carnívoros de Kalodirr y Moruorot, dos yacimientos de finales del Mioceno temprano de la Formación Lothidok del Oeste de Turkana, Kenia. Los fósiles incluyen una nueva especie de vivérrido, Kichechia savagei sp. nov., un nuevo género y especie de felino, Katifelis nightingalei gen. et sp. nov., y un musteloideo no identificado. También informamos de nuevos registros del anficiónido Cynelos macrodon. Estos nuevos fósiles aumentan la diversidad conocida de mamíferos carnívoros africanos del Mioceno temprano y resaltan las diferencias regionales en África.
Palabras clave: Mioceno temprano; Kenia; carnívoros; Formación Lothidok; nuevo género; nuevas especies
Traducción: Enrique Peñalver (Sociedad Española de Paleontología)
Résumé en Français
Nouveaux Carnivora (Mammalia) miocènes de Moruorot et Kalodirr, Kenya
Nous décrivons des nouveaux Carnivora fossiles de Kalodirr et Moruorot, deux sites de la fin du Miocène ancien de la formation de Lothidock, rive ouest du Lac Turkana, Kenya. Les fossiles incluent une nouvelle espèce de viverridé, Kichechia savagei sp. nov., une nouvelle espèce dans un nouveau genre de félidé, Katifelis nightingalei gen. et sp. nov., et un mustéloïde indéterminé. Nous signalons aussi de nouvelles occurrences de l’amphicyonidé Cynelos macrodon. Ces nouveaux fossiles enrichissent la connaissance de la diversité des Carnivora africains au Miocène ancien et soulignent les différences régionales en Afrique.
Mots-clés : Miocène ancien ; Kenya ; Carnivora ; formation de Lothidock ; nouveau genre ; nouvelle espèce
Translator: Antoine Souron
Deutsche Zusammenfassung
Neue miozäne Carnivora (Mammalia) aus Moruorot und Kalodirr, Kenia
Wir beschreiben neue karnivore Fossilien aus Kalodirr und Moruorot, zwei späten Frühmiozänen Fundstellen der Lothidok Formation von West Turkana, Kenia. Die Fossilien beinhalten eine neue Schleichkatzenart Kichechia savagei sp. nov., die neue Feliden-Gattung und Art Katifelis nightingalei gen. et sp. nov. und einen nicht identifizierten Musteloiden. Außerdem berichten wir über Nachweise des Amphicyoniden Cynelos macrodon. Diese neuen Fossilen steigern die bekannte Diversität afrikanischer miozäner Karnivoren und heben die regionalen Unterschiede in Afrika hervor.
Schlüsselwörter: frühes Miozän; Kenia; Karnivore; Lothidok Formation; neue Gattung; neue Art
Translator: Eva Gebauer
Arabic
Translator: Ashraf M.T. Elewa
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Review: The Princeton Field Guide to Mesozoic Sea Reptiles
The Princeton Field Guide to Mesozoic Sea Reptiles
Article number: 26.1.1R
April 2023