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Article Reference Reassessment of the small "arctocyonid" Prolatidens waudruae from the Early Paleocene of Belgium, and its phylogenetic relationships with ungulate-like mammals
‘Arctocyonids’ are generally considered as including some of the most primitive ‘ungulates’ from the Paleocene. Although more than 15 genera are known from North America, European members of this order are less common and mainly belong to derived genera such as Arctocyon. However, one species of primitive arctocyonid, Prolatidens waudruae, was described from the early Paleocene of Hainin, Mons Basin, Belgium. Here we describe new dental positions of this small taxon, including for the first time upper molars and upper fourth premolar. Morphological comparisons confirm the position of P. waudruae among primitive ‘ungulates,’ with the closest North American arctocyonids being Prothryptacodon furens and Oxyprimus galadrielae. Oxyprimus galadrielae features slightly more primitive morphological traits than both other species. Apheliscids share several characters with Prolatidens, but the latter lacks the apomorphies defining the family. Among ‘arctocyonids,’ Prolatidens shares with only Protungulatum and Oxyprimus the incomplete lingual cingulum at the base of the protocone of M1. Prolatidens waudruae is unique among Procreodi in its combination of primitive and derived characters. The cladistic analysis places P. waudruae close to the base of the ingroup, indicating that this species is among the most primitive members of the Paleocene ‘ungulates.’ However, the lower nodes of the trees are not well supported and definitive conclusions should await more complete specimens and analysis. Apheliscids are situated relatively far from Prolatidens, suggesting that the resemblances between them are better considered as convergences. Based on the morphological comparisons, the arctocyonid from Hainin correlates best with North American Torrejonian taxa.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference A Strigogyps-like bird from the Middle Paleocene of China with an unusual grasping foot
We describe a new avian species, Qianshanornis rapax, gen. et sp. nov., from the middle Paleocene Wanghudun Formation of the Qianshan Basin in Anhui Province, China. The holotype consists of an incomplete articulated foot and a few associated bones, mainly of the leg, wing, and pectoral girdle. Qianshanornis rapax is characterized by a derived foot morphology and may have had a hyperextendible second toe, which has so far only been reported for some Mesozoic taxa. The new species is markedly different from all other known Cenozoic birds and is here classified in the new taxonQianshanornithidae. The leg bones, especially the distal end of the tibiotarsus, most closely resemble those of Strigogyps (Ameghinornithidae) from the Eocene, and possibly Oligocene, of Europe, but unlike the latter, the much smaller Q. rapax appears to have had well-developed flight capabilities.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Contribution of Asia to the evolution and paleobiogeography of the earliest modern mammals
The mammals, inconspicuous during the dinosaur period, saw an increase in their size and number of species after the extinction of these giants sixty-five million years ago. This was the beginning of the Age of Mammals. But it was only at the beginning of the Eocene fifty-five million years ago during an extremely fast and intense global warming called PETM (Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum) when their diversity exploded. New groups then suddenly appeared on the three northern continents via intercontinental land bridges across which they made important dispersals. These new groups, called “modern mammals”, consist of rodents, lagomorphs, perissodactyls, artiodactyls, cetaceans, primates, carnivorans and bats. Although these eight groups represent 83 % of the extant mammal species diversity, their ancestors are still unknown. A short overview of the knowledge and recent progress on this research is here presented on the basis of Belgian studies and expeditions, especially in India and China.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Conserving large populations of lions – the argument for fences has holes
Packer et al. reported that fenced lion populations attain densities closer to carrying capacity than unfenced populations. However, fenced populations are often maintained above carrying capacity, and most are small. Many more lions are conserved per dollar invested in unfenced ecosystems, which avoid the ecological and economic costs of fencing.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental analysis of the Rupelian-Chattian transition in the type region: evidence from dinoflagellate cysts, foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Danian/Selandian boundary stratigraphy, paleoenvironment and Ostracoda from Sidi Nasseur, Tunisia.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Paleoenvironmental change at the Danian-Selandian transition in Tunisia: planktic fioraminifera, calcareous nannofossil and organic-walled dinoflagellate cyst records
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference Danian/Selandian boundary criteria and North Sea Basin-Tethys correlations based on calcareous nannofossil and foraminiferal trends in SW France.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Article Reference In search of the latest Danian Event in a paleobathymetric transect off Kasserine Island (North-Central Tunisia).
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