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Jorge Morales - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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A new giraffid (Mammalia, Ruminantia, Pecora) from the late Miocene of Spain, and the evolution of the sivathere-samothere lineage.
PloS one, 2017Co-Authors: Maria Rios, Israel M. Sánchez, Jorge MoralesAbstract:Giraffids include the only living giraffomorph ruminants and are diagnosed by the presence of bi-lobed canines and a special type of epiphyseal cranial appendages called ossicones. The family Giraffidae ranges from the latest early Miocene until today. However they are currently extant relics with only two living representatives, the African genera Okapia and Giraffa. Giraffids were much more diverse and widespread in the past, with more than 30 fossil species described. For the past decades a number of studies intended to resolve the phylogenetic relationships of the family, but due to the lack of really good cranial material no clear consensus was reached regarding the phylogenetic relationships amongst the different members of the group. The exceptionally complete remains of a new large giraffid from the late Miocene of Spain, Decennatherium rex sp. nov., allows us to improve and reassess giraffid systematics, offering a lot of new data, both anatomic and phylogenetic, on the large late Miocene giraffids of Eurasia. The results of our cladistic analysis show Decennatherium as a basal offshoot of a clade containing the gigantic samotheres and sivatheres, characterized by the presence of a Sivatherium-like ossicone-plan among other features. Decennatherium thus offers the most ancient evidence of this Sivatherium-plan and firmly establishes the early morphological patterns of evolution of a sivathere / samothere-clade that is defined as the less inclusive clade that contains Decennatherium and Sivatherium. Finally, this large group of four-ossiconed giraffids evolutionarily links Miocene Europe and Africa indicating vicariance / migration processes among the giraffid genetic pools separated by the Mediterranean Sea.
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Comparative anatomy, phylogeny, and systematics of the Miocene giraffid Decennatherium pachecoi Crusafont, 1952 (Mammalia, Ruminantia, Pecora): State of the art
2016Co-Authors: Maria Rios, Israel M. Sánchez, Jorge MoralesAbstract:Decennatherium pachecoi Crusafont, 1952, is one of two giraffid species described from the Miocene of the Iberian Peninsula. This species is recovered exclusively from Vallesian faunas (MN9–10, late Miocene, 10–11 Ma). Despite being relatively well represented in the fossil record, except for the skull and ossicones, the complete vertebral column, and part of the upper dentition, its systematics and phylogenetic position among giraffids are the subject of debate. We update our knowledge of D. pachecoi, revising all Spanish material assigned to this species, as well as previously undescribed fossils. We reassess the systematics of Decennatherium, including its potential relationship with the second Iberian giraffid, the early Turolian Birgerbohlinia Crusafont, 1952, by means of the first cladistic analysis of the Giraffidae that includes Decennatherium together with the most relevant African and Eurasian taxa, both fossil and extant. Our results link Decennatherium with a ‘samothere’ clade, whereas Birgerbohlinia is nested within a ‘sivathere’ clade, thus refuting a previously assumed direct relationship between the two Spanish forms. Finally, we discuss some other possible finds of the genus Decennatherium in Greece, Turkey, and Iran. SUPPLEMENTAL DATA—Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline.com/UJVP Citation for this article: Rios, M., I. M. Sánchez, and J. Morales. 2016. Comparative anatomy, phylogeny, and systematics of the Miocene giraffid Decennatherium pachecoi Crusafont, 1952 (Mammalia, Ruminantia, Pecora): State of the art. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2016.1187624.
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nuevos datos sobre decennatherium pachecoi crusafont 1952 Giraffidae mammalia descripcion del craneo de matillas
COL-PA. Publicaciones de departamento de paleontología, 2000Co-Authors: Jorge MoralesAbstract:Decenrzatherium fue descrito por CRUSAFONT (1952)> que lo situo en la subfamiiia Giraffinae, a partir de restos dentarios y posteraneales. CRUSAFONT (1961) figuro, en el Traite de Paleontologie de PIVETEAU, un craneo de Decennatheriurn de la localidad de Matillas, eraneo que nunca fue descrito, y que se estudia en el presente trabajo. Decennarberiuro se caracteriza por la presencia de dos fuertes osiconos conicos situados encima de las orbitas y proyectados hacia delante, motivo por el que es incluido en la subfainilia Sivatheriinae.
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Pachyostosis in a Lower MioceneGiraffoid from Spain, Lorancameryx pachyostoticus nov. gen. nov. sp. and its bearing on the evolution of bony appendages in artiodactyls
Geobios, 1993Co-Authors: Jorge Morales, Martin Pickford, Dolores SoriaAbstract:Abstract At the lower Miocene locality of Loranca, Spain, numerous skeletal and dental remains of a peculiar Giraffoid havebeen collected. Many of the long bone diaphyses, especially of the front limbs, possess abnormally thickened multilayered “pachyostotic” bone deposits, all adult individuals being affected (MNI = 24). These remains are identified as belonging to a new genus and species of giraffoid Lorancameryx pachyostoticus , close to Teruelia adroveri , another lower Miocene giraffoid from Spain without pachyostosis. In searching for an explanation for the phenomenon of pachyostosis in the Loranca giraffoid, the authors have developed an hypothesis about the evolution of “abnormal” bony deposits in artiodactyls, including the appearance of frontal appendages in several Miocene to Recent lineages (Cervidae, Climacoceratidae, Lagomerycidae, Bovidae, Giraffidae, Antilocapridae, Hoplitomerycidae, Palaeomerycidae, Suidae) and of pachyostotic mandibles and maxillae in some Pleistocene Cervidae. The hypothesis is that all these “abnormal” bony deposits are simply different strategies for maintaining body/skeletal relations relatively constant in species which undergo marked seasonal body weight fluctuations. The onset of marked seasonality towards the end of the lower Miocene period appears to have been the “trigger” for the independent evolution of bony cranial appendages in at least 7 lineages of ruminants and of pachyostotic limb bones in the Loranca giraffoid. Once such appendages had evolved they secondarily took on behavioural significance. The authors also discuss the reasons for the onset of marked seasonality towards the end of the lower Miocene.
Nikos Solounias - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Comparisons of Schansitherium tafeli with Samotherium boissieri (Giraffidae, Mammalia) from the Late Miocene of Gansu Province, China.
PloS one, 2019Co-Authors: Sukuan Hou, Melinda Danowitz, Michael Cydylo, Nikos SolouniasAbstract:We are describing and figuring for the first time skulls of Schansitherium tafeli, which are abundant in the Gansu area of China from the Late Miocene. They were animals about the size of Samotherium with shorter necks that had two pairs of ossicones that merge at the base, which is unlike Samotherium. The anterior ossicones consist of anterior lineations, which may represent growth lines. They were likely mixed feeders similar to Samotherium. Schansitherium is tentatively placed in a very close position to Samotherium. Samotherium and Schansitherium represent a pair of morphologically very similar species that likely coexisted similarly to pairs of modern species, where the main difference is in the ossicones. Pairs of ruminants in Africa, for example, exist today that differ mostly in their horn shape but otherwise are similar in size, shape, and diet. The absence of Schansitherium from Europe is interesting, however, as Samotherium is found in both locations. While is it challenging to interpret neck length and ossicone shape in terms of function in combat, we offer our hypothesis as to how the two species differed in their fighting techniques.
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The Giraffidae of Maragheh and the identification of a new species of Honanotherium
Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 2016Co-Authors: Nikos Solounias, Melinda DanowitzAbstract:Giraffids were important components of the late Miocene Maragheh mammalian community. We provide detailed cranial and post-cranial morphological descriptions of six Maragheh giraffids, including Helladotherium duvernoyi , Alcicephalus neumayri , Samotherium boissieri , Samotherium major , Palaeotragus coelophrys and Bohlinia attica , extending the geological range of several taxa. We also describe a new species of Honanotherium ( Honanotherium bernori ), a taxon smaller than Honanotherium schlosseri . This is the westernmost occurrence of Honanotherium . We create our giraffid faunal list by first identifying each Maragheh specimen to a species, creating a representative specimen/species list. Subsequently, each specimen is described by comparing the Maragheh elements with the corresponding specimens from the type locality where each species is originally known. This method allows for accurate species identifications, and facilitates palaeoecological comparisons between multiple localities using morphological differences in the taxa. For palaeoecology, we evaluate and analyse the dentition of a few adult Maragheh giraffids using combined inner and outer mesowear variables, and find individuals spanning the dietary continuum, but with a polarity towards browsing diets. We describe limb differences among the Palaeotraginae, describe dental and limb similarities between Helladotherium duvernoyi and species of Bohlininae, and discuss the ossicones of Bohlininae. We provide comprehensive and detailed anatomical descriptions of seven giraffid taxa that can facilitate future species identifications and comparisons.
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Astragalar Morphology of Selected Giraffidae.
PloS one, 2016Co-Authors: Nikos Solounias, Melinda DanowitzAbstract:The artiodactyl astragalus has been modified to exhibit two trochleae, creating a double pullied structure allowing for significant dorso-plantar motion, and limited mediolateral motion. The astragalus structure is partly influenced by environmental substrates, and correspondingly, morphometric studies can yield paleohabitat information. The present study establishes terminology and describes detailed morphological features on giraffid astragali. Each giraffid astragalus exhibits a unique combination of anatomical characteristics. The giraffid astragalar morphologies reinforce previously established phylogenetic relationships. We find that the enlargement of the navicular head is a feature shared by all giraffids, and that the primitive giraffids possess exceptionally tall astragalar heads in relation to the total astragalar height. The sivatheres and the okapi share a reduced notch on the lateral edge of the astragalus. We find that Samotherium is more primitive in astragalar morphologies than Palaeotragus, which is reinforced by tooth characteristics and ossicone position. Diagnostic anatomical characters on the astragalus allow for giraffid species identifications and a better understanding of Giraffidae.
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The Cervical Osteology of Okapia johnstoni and Giraffa camelopardalis.
PloS one, 2015Co-Authors: Melinda Danowitz, Nikos SolouniasAbstract:Giraffidae is the only family of ruminants that is represented by two extant species; Okapia johnstoni and Giraffa camelopardalis. Of these taxa, O. johnstoni represents a typical short-necked ungulate, and G. camelopardalis exemplifies the most extreme cervical elongation seen in any ruminant. We utilize these two species to provide a comprehensive anatomic description of the cervical vertebrae. In addition, we compare the serial morphologic characteristics of the okapi and giraffe cervical vertebrae, and report on several osteologic differences seen between the two taxa. The giraffe neck appears to exhibit homogenization of C3-C7; the position of the dorsal tubercle, thickness of the cranial articular process, shape of the ventral vertebral body, and orientation of the ventral tubercle are constant throughout these vertebrae, whereas these features are serially variable in the okapi. We also report on several specializations of the giraffe C7, which we believe relates to an atypical cervico-thoracic junction, corresponding to the substantial neck lengthening. The morphologic differences exhibited between the okapi and giraffe cervical vertebrae have implications on the function of the necks relating to both fighting and feeding.
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New fossils of Giraffoidea (Mammalia: Artiodactyla) from the Lothidok Formation (Kalodirr Member, Early Miocene, West Turkana, Kenya) contribute to our understanding of early giraffoid diversity
2014Co-Authors: Ari Grossman, Nikos SolouniasAbstract:Excavations at Kalodirr and Moruorot from the Lothidok Formation (ca. 17 mya) in the West Turkana Region of Kenya have yielded several cranial appendages, dentitions and postcranial fossils that can be attributed to either Climacoceratidae or the Giraffidae. An additional unusual and unique fossil, we describe in this paper for the first time, is, in our opinion, a novel stem-giraffoid cranial appendage. The Climacoceras from Kalodirr is the oldest representative of the genus, extending Climacoceratidae into the Early Miocene. We establish that by the end of the Early Miocene in Africa the Giraffoidea included at least two families, Climacoceratidae and Giraffidae, distinguished by different types of cranial appendages. Furthermore, the Giraffidae include at least two distinct lineages, represented by distinctive ossicones found at Kalodirr and Moruorot. Thus, we recognize that unlike at older sites where only Canthumeryx is recognized, by the later part of the early Miocene, Giraffoidea communities in East Africa include as many as three genera, and perhaps even four. This pattern of diversity in giraffoid communities persisted into the Middle Miocene and beyond.
Denis Geraads - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Giraffidae mammalia de la fin du neogene de la republique de macedoine arym
Geodiversitas, 2009Co-Authors: Denis GeraadsAbstract:ABSTRACT Giraffidae (Mammalia) from the late Neogene of the Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Excavations undertaken in several sites of the Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) during the last decades have yielded rich mammalian faunas, including some significant giraffid specimens. An almost complete and uncrushed skull from the upper Miocene of Kirokucuk is the best known specimen of Bohlinia attica; it confirms that this taxon is closely related to Giraffa, even though it is more primitive than the African forms of the latter genus. Helladotherium is represented by cranial and limb-bone remains. The association of these two genera is also found in Bulgaria and at Pikermi in Greece. Cranial elements, including most of a posterior horn, are assigned to a new species of Sivatherium, probably of Pliocene age, and characterized by its huge posterior horns. Its presence implies faunal connections between Southern Europe, Southern Asia and Africa at that time.
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Miocene hominoid locality of Çandır (Turkey)
2006Co-Authors: Denis GeraadsAbstract:other than Giraffidae from the middl
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Giraffidae (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the Late Miocene of Kalimantsi and Hadjidimovo, Southwestern Bulgaria
Geologica Balcanica, 2005Co-Authors: Denis Geraads, Nikolaï Spassov, Dimitar KovachevAbstract:The various late Miocene localities around the villages of Hadjidimovo and Kalimantsi in south-western Bulgaria yielded a rich collection of giraffes, including Helladotherium duvernoyi, Bohlinia attica and Palaeotragus rouenii. These are the same species as at Pikermi, suggesting that there is no great age difference between these localities, but the limb-bones of both former species are stouter at Kalimantsi than in the Greek site, a difference which is perhaps of ecological origin. The absence of Samotherium, known in the geographically close sites of Greek Macedonia might be a consequence of the isolation of the river basins.
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Giraffidae from the middle miocene hominoid locality of candir turkey
Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 2003Co-Authors: Denis Geraads, Fehmi AslanAbstract:The site of Candir has yielded one of the best collections of Giraffidae from the Middle Miocene of the Eastern Mediterranean. It is here referred to a single new species, whose comparison with other contemporaneous remains from this area and the Siwaliks raises some interesting phylogenetic problems.
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Ruminants, other than Giraffidae from the middle Miocene hominoid locality of Çandır (Turkey)
Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 2003Co-Authors: Denis GeraadsAbstract:There are six Ruminant species at Çandır, not including the Giraffid Giraffokeryx. The smallest one is a Micromeryx, a genus left as Eupecora incertae sedis, but its determination at species level must await full revision of the genus. A large rare form is provisionally referred to Palaeomeryx. Also rare is a new species of the primitive cervid Heteroprox, with antlers similar to the European ones, but with quite a different dentition. Bovids are much more common, with the hypsodont genera Turcocerus and Hypsodontus, and the more generalised Tethytragus. The ruminants provide no evidence for putting Çandır later than Paşalar, but they reveal ecological differences, Çandır Locality 3 being especially open.
Melinda Danowitz - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Comparisons of Schansitherium tafeli with Samotherium boissieri (Giraffidae, Mammalia) from the Late Miocene of Gansu Province, China.
PloS one, 2019Co-Authors: Sukuan Hou, Melinda Danowitz, Michael Cydylo, Nikos SolouniasAbstract:We are describing and figuring for the first time skulls of Schansitherium tafeli, which are abundant in the Gansu area of China from the Late Miocene. They were animals about the size of Samotherium with shorter necks that had two pairs of ossicones that merge at the base, which is unlike Samotherium. The anterior ossicones consist of anterior lineations, which may represent growth lines. They were likely mixed feeders similar to Samotherium. Schansitherium is tentatively placed in a very close position to Samotherium. Samotherium and Schansitherium represent a pair of morphologically very similar species that likely coexisted similarly to pairs of modern species, where the main difference is in the ossicones. Pairs of ruminants in Africa, for example, exist today that differ mostly in their horn shape but otherwise are similar in size, shape, and diet. The absence of Schansitherium from Europe is interesting, however, as Samotherium is found in both locations. While is it challenging to interpret neck length and ossicone shape in terms of function in combat, we offer our hypothesis as to how the two species differed in their fighting techniques.
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The Giraffidae of Maragheh and the identification of a new species of Honanotherium
Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 2016Co-Authors: Nikos Solounias, Melinda DanowitzAbstract:Giraffids were important components of the late Miocene Maragheh mammalian community. We provide detailed cranial and post-cranial morphological descriptions of six Maragheh giraffids, including Helladotherium duvernoyi , Alcicephalus neumayri , Samotherium boissieri , Samotherium major , Palaeotragus coelophrys and Bohlinia attica , extending the geological range of several taxa. We also describe a new species of Honanotherium ( Honanotherium bernori ), a taxon smaller than Honanotherium schlosseri . This is the westernmost occurrence of Honanotherium . We create our giraffid faunal list by first identifying each Maragheh specimen to a species, creating a representative specimen/species list. Subsequently, each specimen is described by comparing the Maragheh elements with the corresponding specimens from the type locality where each species is originally known. This method allows for accurate species identifications, and facilitates palaeoecological comparisons between multiple localities using morphological differences in the taxa. For palaeoecology, we evaluate and analyse the dentition of a few adult Maragheh giraffids using combined inner and outer mesowear variables, and find individuals spanning the dietary continuum, but with a polarity towards browsing diets. We describe limb differences among the Palaeotraginae, describe dental and limb similarities between Helladotherium duvernoyi and species of Bohlininae, and discuss the ossicones of Bohlininae. We provide comprehensive and detailed anatomical descriptions of seven giraffid taxa that can facilitate future species identifications and comparisons.
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Astragalar Morphology of Selected Giraffidae.
PloS one, 2016Co-Authors: Nikos Solounias, Melinda DanowitzAbstract:The artiodactyl astragalus has been modified to exhibit two trochleae, creating a double pullied structure allowing for significant dorso-plantar motion, and limited mediolateral motion. The astragalus structure is partly influenced by environmental substrates, and correspondingly, morphometric studies can yield paleohabitat information. The present study establishes terminology and describes detailed morphological features on giraffid astragali. Each giraffid astragalus exhibits a unique combination of anatomical characteristics. The giraffid astragalar morphologies reinforce previously established phylogenetic relationships. We find that the enlargement of the navicular head is a feature shared by all giraffids, and that the primitive giraffids possess exceptionally tall astragalar heads in relation to the total astragalar height. The sivatheres and the okapi share a reduced notch on the lateral edge of the astragalus. We find that Samotherium is more primitive in astragalar morphologies than Palaeotragus, which is reinforced by tooth characteristics and ossicone position. Diagnostic anatomical characters on the astragalus allow for giraffid species identifications and a better understanding of Giraffidae.
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The Cervical Osteology of Okapia johnstoni and Giraffa camelopardalis.
PloS one, 2015Co-Authors: Melinda Danowitz, Nikos SolouniasAbstract:Giraffidae is the only family of ruminants that is represented by two extant species; Okapia johnstoni and Giraffa camelopardalis. Of these taxa, O. johnstoni represents a typical short-necked ungulate, and G. camelopardalis exemplifies the most extreme cervical elongation seen in any ruminant. We utilize these two species to provide a comprehensive anatomic description of the cervical vertebrae. In addition, we compare the serial morphologic characteristics of the okapi and giraffe cervical vertebrae, and report on several osteologic differences seen between the two taxa. The giraffe neck appears to exhibit homogenization of C3-C7; the position of the dorsal tubercle, thickness of the cranial articular process, shape of the ventral vertebral body, and orientation of the ventral tubercle are constant throughout these vertebrae, whereas these features are serially variable in the okapi. We also report on several specializations of the giraffe C7, which we believe relates to an atypical cervico-thoracic junction, corresponding to the substantial neck lengthening. The morphologic differences exhibited between the okapi and giraffe cervical vertebrae have implications on the function of the necks relating to both fighting and feeding.
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Dead ossicones, and other characters describing Palaeotraginae (Giraffidae; Mammalia) based on new material from Gansu, Central China
2014Co-Authors: Sukuan Hou, Melinda Danowitz, John Sammis, Nikos SolouniasAbstract:While the identity and validity of the extant families of ruminants are undoubted, there are significant problems with the determination of the interrelationships among the families, notably within the families of the Pecora, or horned ruminants. The morphological features used to construct ruminant phylogeny have been a source of controversy: many features used over the past century have been shown to be highly homoplastic and related to functional similarities. Ruminants evolved in the context of the later Cenozoic climatic changes, and many lineages adopted functional morphological adaptations related to feeding on more abrasive diets (resulting in the parallel evolution of a greater extent of loph development in the molars and, in some lineages, hypsodonty) and locomotion in open habitats (resulting in the parallel evolution of fused metapodials and reduction and/or loss of lateral digits). The fact that the molecular phylogeny shows a very different pattern from the currently accepted morphological one is of particular cause for concern, especially as molecular data are of no use for understanding the relationships of extinct lineages. Here we review the morphological data used in ruminant phylogenetics, and show even many of the less obviously functional features (e.g., number and position of the lacrimal orifices) are subject to homoplasy and variation, especially when fossil taxa are included. In addition, many morphological features treated as independent traits in phylogenetics are correlated (e.g., cranial morphology associated with hypsodonty). Some potentially reliable features are identified, but these do not help to sort out relationships within the Pecora. We advocate for the investigation into better morphological features, possibly derived from basicranial and ear region characters (although these features are not without their own issues of homoplasy), and for caution in character consideration in performing phylogenetic analyses.
Geraads Denis - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Ruminants (Giraffidae and bovidae) from Kanapoi
'Elsevier BV', 2020Co-Authors: Geraads Denis, Bobe RenéAbstract:We update here our recent revision of the Kanapoi ruminants and describe recently collected material. We now regard the occurrence of reduncins as doubtful, we revise the identification of a large raphicerin as being more probably Gazella, and we add Gazella cf. janenschi and the Cephalophini to the faunal list. New material of Tragelaphus kyaloi suggests that this species held its head unlike other tragelaphins, and was not an exclusive dedicated browser, but Kanapoi pre-dates the Pliocene change of Sivatherium, Aepyceros, Alcelaphini, and even Tragelaphini toward more grazing diets. Kanapoi shares several ruminant taxa with sites in Ethiopia and Tanzania, attesting to latitudinal exchanges.National Science Foundation (NSF) BCS-1231749 BCS-1231675 Wenner Gren Foundation University of Missouri Research Board PAST of South-Afric
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Browsing and non-browsing extant and extinct giraffids Evidence from dental microwear textural analysis
'Elsevier BV', 2018Co-Authors: Merceron Gildas, Colyn Marc, Geraads DenisAbstract:International audienceToday, the family Giraffidae is restricted to two genera endemic to the African continent, Okapia and Giraffa, but, with over ten genera and dozens of species, it was far more diverse in the Old World during the late Miocene. We attempt to describe here how several species may have shared feeding resources in the Eastern Mediterranean. Dietary preferences were explored by means of Dental Microwear Textural Analysis in combination with estimation of body mass and the maximum height at which the various species were able to browse. One of our main results concerns the modern okapi, Okapia johnstoni. It is a forest dweller usually regarded as a browser, but we show that it might also forage on tough plants, possibly herbaceous monocots. Such feeding habits including portions of herbaceous monocotyledons were also found for some extinct species, especially the genera Samotherium and Palaeotragus. Palaeogiraffa shows a contrasted pattern the specimens of P. pamiri from a site in Thrace were leaf-dominant browsers whereas those belonging to P. major and P. macedoniae from the Axios valley in Greece ingested herbaceous monocotyledons. Helladotherium duvernoyi, the only sivatheriine analyzed here is described as a leaf-dominant browser. The giraffine Bohlinia attica also falls within the leaf-dominant browser category but could browse on higher foliages than H. duvernoyi. On the whole, the reconstructed diets confirm the relationship between more grazing habits and smaller premolars, but not with higher dental crown height
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Late Miocene large mammals from Mahmutgazi, Denizli province, Western Turkey.
'Schweizerbart', 2017Co-Authors: Geraads DenisAbstract:International audienceThe upper Miocene locality of Mahmutgazi in Western Turkey was excavated in the 70s by a German team, but most of its large mammals had never been studied. The collection housed in the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Karlsruhe, contains, besides previously published groups, large samples of Giraffidae (Samotherium), Rhinocerotidae (including a nice complete skull of Ceratotherium neumayri), and Equidae, as well as some Chalicotheriidae (Ancylotherium) and Bovidae (Boselaphini), which are studied here. Three fossiliferous spots, Ma1, Ma2, and Ma3 have been recognized but I regard the first two, and probably also the third one, as contemporaneous. Although the fossil assemblage certainly does not reflect the full original taxonomic diversity, tentative biochronological conclusions can be proposed: the site is probably older than Şerefköy, Akkaşdağı, and the 'Dominant Fossil Assemblage' of Samos, but definitely younger than the early part of the Samos sequence
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Discovery of an Upper Miocene Vertebrate fauna near Tizi N'Tadderht, Skoura, Ouarzazate Basin (Central High Atlas, Morocco)
Elsevier Masson, 2012Co-Authors: Zouhri Samir, Geraads Denis, El Boughabi Siham, El Harfi AbdelghaniAbstract:International audienceThe discovery of Upper Miocene vertebrates at Tizi N'Tadderht in the Ouarzazate basin (Morocco) helps to fill a gap in our knowledge of Neogene faunas in North Africa. The new fauna includes an ostrich cf. Struthio sp, a turtle cf. Centrochelys sp., Crocodylus cf. niloticus, and a relatively diverse fauna of large mammals. The mammal assemblage probably includes three hipparion species, including a very small form not previously reported from Africa, aff. Cremohipparion periafricanum, two species of rhinoceros cf. Ceratotherium sp. and aff. Chilotherium sp., a Proboscidean cf. Tetralophodon sp., a large member of the Giraffidae similar to "Palaeotragus" germaini and two bovids of which one is likely related to Prostrepsiceros, while the other is a new medium-sized antelope with spiral horns, certainly a representative of the Caprinae, a group that is rare in Africa. A late Miocene age, corresponding to the European Turolian Mammal age, is most likely for this fauna
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Giraffidae (Mammalia) de la fin du Néogène de la République de Macédoine (ARYM)
Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle Paris, 2009Co-Authors: Geraads DenisAbstract:http://www.mnhn.fr/museum/front/medias/publication/22722_g09n4a12.pdfInternational audienceGiraffidae (Mammalia) from the late Neogene of the Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Excavations undertaken in several sites of the Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) during the last decades have yielded rich mammalian faunas, including some significant giraffid specimens. An almost complete and uncrushed skull from the upper Miocene of Kirokuçuk is the best known specimen of Bohlinia attica; it confirms that this taxon is closely related to Giraffa, even though it is more primitive than the African forms of the latter genus. Helladotherium is represented by cranial and limb-bone remains. The association of these two genera is also found in Bulgaria and at Pikermi in Greece. Cranial elements, including most of a posterior horn, are assigned to a new species of Sivatherium, probably of Pliocene age, and characterized by its huge posterior horns. Its presence implies faunal connections between Southern Europe, Southern Asia and Africa at that time.Les fouilles menées dans plusieurs gisements de la République de Macédoine (ARYM) au cours des dernières décennies ont mis au jour de riches faunes mammaliennes, parmi lesquelles quelques pièces significatives de Giraffidae. Un crâne presque complet et non déformé du Miocène supérieur de Kirokuçuk est le meilleur spécimen connu de Bohlinia attica ; il confirme la proche parenté de ce taxon et de Giraffa, même s'il est plus primitif que les formes africaines de ce dernier genre. Helladotherium est représenté par des éléments de crânes et os des membres. On retrouve cette association de taxons en Bulgarie et à Pikermi en Grèce. Des éléments d'un crâne, incluant la plus grande partie d'une corne postérieure, d'âge probablement pliocène, sont attribués à une nouvelle espèce de Sivatherium, caractérisée par ses cornes postérieures gigantesques, impliquant des échanges fauniques entre l'Europe du Sud, l'Afrique et l'Asie du Sud à cette époque