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Article Reference An assessment of animal species diversity in continental waters
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference An assessment of the importance of resting eggs for the evolutionary success of non-marine Ostracoda (Crustacea). In: BRENDONCK, L., L. DE MEESTER & N. HAIRSTON (eds.) Evolutionary and ecological aspects of crustacean diapause
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference An early Middle Palaeolithic site at Mesvin IV (Mons, Belgium). Its significance for stratigraphy and palaeontology.
Located in RBINS Publications / Bulletin of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences - Earth Sciences. / Bulletin of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences - Earth Sciences
Article Reference An enigmatic new ungulate-like mammal from the early Eocene of India
We report a new genus and species of herbivorous mammal, Pahelia mysteriosa, from the early Eocene Cambay Shale Formation, Tadkeshwar Lignite Mine, Gujarat, India. The new taxon, approximately the size of a small phenacodontid (e.g. Ectocion parvus), is represented by three mandibular fragments, the most complete of which documents nearly the entire symphysis and mandibular body plus P3–M3. Pahelia has incipiently selenolophodont molars with strong exodaenodonty, absent paraconids, weak but distinct entolophids, and prominent ectostylids. Molar size increases distally, but M3 does not develop a prominent third lobe. Premolars are simple, with prominent protoconids and short talonids but little development of other trigonid cusps. The mandibular symphysis is strongly fused, and there is an enlarged alveolus for an anterior tooth. The combination of features present in the new taxon does not closely match that of any known mammal, but there are some similarities to a diversity of ungulates from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Preserved morphology is insufficient to assess the affinities of the new taxon with confidence, but a link to Quettacyonidae, also endemic to the Indian subcontinent, is morphologically and biogeographically plausible. If this scenario is correct, it suggests that P. mysteriosa could be a part of the endemic mammalian fauna of India prior to its initial faunal contact with Asia.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Inproceedings Reference An enigmatic ungulate from the early Eocene of India
The early Eocene Cambay Shale Formation in Gujarat State, India has produced a rich mammalian fauna, including the earliest artiodactyls, perissodactyls, primates, hyaenodonts, rodents, lagomorphs, chiropterans, and tillodonts from the Indian Subcontinent. While some of these groups show endemism at the generic or familial level, all belong to clades that are widely distributed across Laurasian continents, and some show particularly close similarities to contemporary taxa from other continents, particularly Europe. We report here a distinctive new taxon, represented by a mandible with p3-m3 and a second mandibular fragment with m3. The morphology of the new taxon is broadly comparable to diverse early ungulates from around the world but shows a unique suite of features including a strongly fused mandibular symphysis, enlarged anterior tooth alveolus, simple premolars lacking paraconids and with only a rudimentary metaconid on p4, progressive size increase of the molars distally, molar exodaenodonty/unilateral hypsodonty, molar paraconids absent, hypoconulids absent on m1-2, incipient development of selenodont buccal cusps and an incipient entolophid formed by a transverse entoconid, well-developed, and prominent m3 hypoconulid. One particularly distinctive feature is the presence of large, cuspate ectostylids on molar hypoflexids. While there are similarities to a variety of taxa, most notably periptychids, louisinids, early African “ungulates” (Abdounodus, Ocepeia), and even early anthracotheres, none of these is detailed enough to indicate a close relationship, and all appear to be better interpreted as convergence. Our present understanding suggests that these fossils represent a new family of “condylarth”-grade ungulates perhaps endemic to India. Although their overall adaptations are very different, there are some intriguing similarities to another group of enigmatic Eocene mammals from the Indian Subcontinent, Quettacyonidae. While more material is needed to test this possible relationship, quettacyonids and the new taxon may represent remnants of the eutherian fauna present in India prior to its first faunal exchange with the northern continents, and the new taxon likely has a lengthy, undocumented history in the Indian Paleocene. Grant Information: Fieldwork and research supported by Leakey Foundation, National Geographic Society, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, and Belgian Science Policy Office.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2017
Article Reference An evaluation of the impact of deep-sea mining of manganese nodules on deep-sea fauna in the Pacific
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference An Exceptional Lower Carboniferous Historical Heritage Stone from Belgium, the ‘Pierre de Meuse’
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021
Inproceedings Reference An exceptionally well preserved primate petrosal from the Early Eocene of India
The Early Eocene (~54.5 Ma) Cambay Shale Formation at Vastan lignite mine (Gujarat, India) has yielded remains of both adapoid and omomyoid primates. The collection of primates includes not only jaws and teeth, but numerous exquisitely preserved postcranial elements. We report on the first cranial specimen for a primate from these deposits: an isolated left petrosal that preserves a partial stapes in anatomical position. The petrosal is identified as a primate based on the remnants of a petrosal bulla, and the presence of an ossified tube for the stapedial artery. The specimen documents a posterolateral entry of the internal carotid artery to the middle ear and a lateral course for the promontorial artery across the promontorium, characters most consistent with an attribution to Adapoidea. Of the adapoids published from the Vastan mine, body mass estimates based on the radii of the semicircular canals, calculated from high resolution microCT data, are most in line with previously calculated estimates for Marcgodinotius indicus, so the specimen is provisionally attributed to that species. Preserved anatomy is largely consistent with that described for Cantius. In particular, although the stapedial artery passed through a bony tube, the promontorial artery ran in an open groove from its origin off the internal carotid artery. This contrasts with the condition in omomyoids and most other adapoids, in which the promontorial artery was carried in a bony tube. The identification of an open groove for this artery in Cantius has been somewhat controversial, based on the state of preservation of published specimens. The petrosal from Vastan is extremely well preserved, demonstrating a clear opening in the internal carotid artery bony tube for the exit of the promontorial artery, and a well-demarcated groove on the promontorium for the latter artery that was clearly not enclosed. The absence of a bony tube for the promontorial artery in the oldest known adapoids suggests that the tube arose independently, in parallel, in Omomyoidea and Adapoidea. The promontorial artery is always enclosed in modern haplorhines, but when this artery is retained in living strepsirrhines it is often not fully enclosed by bone. Therefore, the primitive adapoid condition is more similar to that observed in Strepsirrhini. The antiquity and fine quality of preservation of this specimen make it relevant to reconstructing auditory morphology near the base of the primate tree. Grant Information Supported by an NSERC Discovery Grant to MTS and grants from the National Geographic Society and the Leakey Foundation to KDR.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference An expanded lower Eocene shelf sequence from the eastern Aquitaine Basin, SW France: stratigraphy and δ18O / δ13C excursions
The early Eocene is characterized by a succession of orbitally-controlled global stable carbon isotope excursions, with some being linked to climatic and related biotic perturbations. The impact of these isotopic excursions has been primarily studied in deep-sea sections under comparably stable conditions. In order to investigate the impact of global post-PETM isotopic signals on shallow marine settings, the Ypresian neritic ʻBlue Marls’ of the Corbières (SW France) were investigated. High-resolution records of microfossil biota and stable carbon and oxygen isotopes pinpoint biostratigraphic, paleoecologic and geochemic constraints. Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy positions the sequence in the upper part of zone NP11, possibly ranging into basal NP12, which is conformable with larger benthic foraminifera data indicating shallow benthic zone SBZ8. This implies a time span of about 0.4 Myr and high overall sedimentation rates of about ~ 32 cm/kyr for the section. A shallowing upward trend from outer neritic to coastal settings is observed in the development of the lithostratigraphy and the microfossil assemblage. The assemblages can be subdivided in seven larger biofacies and four ostracod assemblage zones. The lower third of the section is characterized by strongly fluctuating and partly high plankton/benthos-ratios for neritic settings. A final pronounced peak in plankton occurrence is associated with strong decrease of benthic biota, suggesting anoxic conditions in the outer neritic environment. Several local negative δ13C- and δ18O-excursions can be identified in the section. The upper, most pronounced and consistent negative δ13C excursion is tentatively linked to global carbon isotope excursion K (ETM3) based on the biostratigraphic constraints.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference An identification key for dermal denticles of Rajidae from the North Sea
As a result of more systematic fine sieving on archaeological sites, dermal denticles and isolated teeth of rays are now more frequently recovered than before. A detailed description of the teeth is available in the literature, but no comparative study of the morphology of the dermal denticles exists that allows the identification of such elements issued from archaeological sites. A key and illustrations are provided for the identification of the dermal denticles of 10 ray species from the North Sea. In addition, the ray denticles have been analysed from seven medieval and postmedieval sites showing their potential for the interpretation of ichthyo-archaeological assemblages.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications