New Fossils of Mellivora Benfieldi (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from Langebaanweg, ‘E’ Quarry (South Africa, Early Pliocene): Re- Evaluation of the African Neogene Mellivorines

We describe abundant new remains of the medium-sized mustelid Mellivora benfieldi from the early Pliocene site of Langebaanweg (South Africa). The specimens are from the Muishond Fontein Pelletal Phosphorite Member (MPPM) and the Langeberg Quartz Sand Member (LQSM). Novel dentognathic—upper dentitio...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Valenciano Vaquero, Alberto, Govender, Romala
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/130259
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/130259
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:569.74
Paleontología
2416.05 Paleontología de Los Vertebrados
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spelling New Fossils of Mellivora Benfieldi (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from Langebaanweg, ‘E’ Quarry (South Africa, Early Pliocene): Re- Evaluation of the African Neogene MellivorinesValenciano Vaquero, AlbertoGovender, Romala569.74Paleontología2416.05 Paleontología de Los VertebradosWe describe abundant new remains of the medium-sized mustelid Mellivora benfieldi from the early Pliocene site of Langebaanweg (South Africa). The specimens are from the Muishond Fontein Pelletal Phosphorite Member (MPPM) and the Langeberg Quartz Sand Member (LQSM). Novel dentognathic—upper dentition, alveolus for m2—and postcranial—humerus, metacarpal V, femur and calcaneus—information is provided. This sample enables us to review the taxonomic status of Mio–Pliocene African mellivorines. Mellivora benfieldi is distinguished from the middle–late Miocene ‘Eomellivora’ tugenensis from Ngorora Kenya by its smaller size, and a M1 protocone messially placed; from the late Miocene Howellictis valentini from Chad by greater dental size with more crowded lower premolars, and p3 with distal accessory cuspid; and from the late Miocene Erokomellivora lothagamensis from Kenya, by shorter p4 and buccolingually shorter m1 protoconid. It also differs from H. valentini and Er. lothagamensis in absence or residual presence of the m2 alveolus. We infer M. benfieldi was an opportunistic, medium-sized carnivoran with semifossorial abilities, comparable to its living relative Mellivora capensis. A cladistic analysis was performed and our phylogenetic results place M. benfieldi as the sister species of M. capensis. Mellivorini contains M. benfieldi, M. capensis, and H. valentini. Additionally, we also include Er. lothagamensis and the Indian Promellivora punjabiensis. We propose the creation of one new tribe within Mellivorinae: Eomellivorini (Eomellivora spp. + Ekorus). It shares a common ancestor with Mellivorini and is characterized by large size, a robust and sharp dentition, as well as a skeleton with cursorial adaptations.Taylor and FrancisUniversidad Complutense de Madrid20202020-11-0220202020-11-02journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501AMhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_ab4af688f83e57aainfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/130259reponame:Docta Complutenseinstname:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)Inglésengopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/1302592026-06-02T12:44:21Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv New Fossils of Mellivora Benfieldi (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from Langebaanweg, ‘E’ Quarry (South Africa, Early Pliocene): Re- Evaluation of the African Neogene Mellivorines
title New Fossils of Mellivora Benfieldi (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from Langebaanweg, ‘E’ Quarry (South Africa, Early Pliocene): Re- Evaluation of the African Neogene Mellivorines
spellingShingle New Fossils of Mellivora Benfieldi (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from Langebaanweg, ‘E’ Quarry (South Africa, Early Pliocene): Re- Evaluation of the African Neogene Mellivorines
Valenciano Vaquero, Alberto
569.74
Paleontología
2416.05 Paleontología de Los Vertebrados
title_short New Fossils of Mellivora Benfieldi (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from Langebaanweg, ‘E’ Quarry (South Africa, Early Pliocene): Re- Evaluation of the African Neogene Mellivorines
title_full New Fossils of Mellivora Benfieldi (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from Langebaanweg, ‘E’ Quarry (South Africa, Early Pliocene): Re- Evaluation of the African Neogene Mellivorines
title_fullStr New Fossils of Mellivora Benfieldi (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from Langebaanweg, ‘E’ Quarry (South Africa, Early Pliocene): Re- Evaluation of the African Neogene Mellivorines
title_full_unstemmed New Fossils of Mellivora Benfieldi (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from Langebaanweg, ‘E’ Quarry (South Africa, Early Pliocene): Re- Evaluation of the African Neogene Mellivorines
title_sort New Fossils of Mellivora Benfieldi (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from Langebaanweg, ‘E’ Quarry (South Africa, Early Pliocene): Re- Evaluation of the African Neogene Mellivorines
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Valenciano Vaquero, Alberto
Govender, Romala
author Valenciano Vaquero, Alberto
author_facet Valenciano Vaquero, Alberto
Govender, Romala
author_role author
author2 Govender, Romala
author2_role author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Universidad Complutense de Madrid
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv 569.74
Paleontología
2416.05 Paleontología de Los Vertebrados
topic 569.74
Paleontología
2416.05 Paleontología de Los Vertebrados
description We describe abundant new remains of the medium-sized mustelid Mellivora benfieldi from the early Pliocene site of Langebaanweg (South Africa). The specimens are from the Muishond Fontein Pelletal Phosphorite Member (MPPM) and the Langeberg Quartz Sand Member (LQSM). Novel dentognathic—upper dentition, alveolus for m2—and postcranial—humerus, metacarpal V, femur and calcaneus—information is provided. This sample enables us to review the taxonomic status of Mio–Pliocene African mellivorines. Mellivora benfieldi is distinguished from the middle–late Miocene ‘Eomellivora’ tugenensis from Ngorora Kenya by its smaller size, and a M1 protocone messially placed; from the late Miocene Howellictis valentini from Chad by greater dental size with more crowded lower premolars, and p3 with distal accessory cuspid; and from the late Miocene Erokomellivora lothagamensis from Kenya, by shorter p4 and buccolingually shorter m1 protoconid. It also differs from H. valentini and Er. lothagamensis in absence or residual presence of the m2 alveolus. We infer M. benfieldi was an opportunistic, medium-sized carnivoran with semifossorial abilities, comparable to its living relative Mellivora capensis. A cladistic analysis was performed and our phylogenetic results place M. benfieldi as the sister species of M. capensis. Mellivorini contains M. benfieldi, M. capensis, and H. valentini. Additionally, we also include Er. lothagamensis and the Indian Promellivora punjabiensis. We propose the creation of one new tribe within Mellivorinae: Eomellivorini (Eomellivora spp. + Ekorus). It shares a common ancestor with Mellivorini and is characterized by large size, a robust and sharp dentition, as well as a skeleton with cursorial adaptations.
publishDate 2020
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2020
2020-11-02
2020
2020-11-02
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv journal article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
AM
http://purl.org/coar/version/c_ab4af688f83e57aa
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/130259
url https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/130259
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
eng
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
dc.rights.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv open access
http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Taylor and Francis
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Taylor and Francis
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Docta Complutense
instname:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
instname_str Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
reponame_str Docta Complutense
collection Docta Complutense
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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score 15.81155

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