Taphonomic, avian, and small-vertebrate indicators of Ardipithecus ramidus habitat. Science (New York, N.Y.) [Science] Journal article | | Title | Taphonomic, avian, and small-vertebrate indicators of Ardipithecus ramidus habitat. | | Author(s) | Louchart A, Wesselman H, Blumenschine RJ, Hlusko LJ, Njau JK, Black MT, Asnake M, White TD | | Institution | Iziko South African Museum, Natural History Department, Cenozoic Palaeontology Collections, Box 61, Cape Town 8000, South Africa. | | Source | Science 2009 Oct 2; 326(5949):66e1-4. | | MeSH | Animals
Biodiversity
Birds
Bone and Bones
Burial
Competitive Behavior
Ecosystem
Environment
Ethiopia
Fossils
Hominidae
Mammals
Trees
Vertebrates
| | Abstract | Thousands of vertebrate specimens were systematically collected from the stratigraphic interval containing Ardipithecus ramidus. The carcasses of larger mammals were heavily ravaged by carnivores. Nearly 10,000 small-mammal remains appear to be derived primarily from decomposed owl pellets. The rich avifauna includes at least 29 species, mostly nonaquatic forms. Modern analogs of the most abundant birds and of a variety of rodents are associated with mesic woodland environments distant from large water bodies. These findings support inferences from associated geological, isotopic, invertebrate, and large-vertebrate assemblages. The combined results suggest that Ar. ramidus occupied a wooded Pliocene habitat. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
| | PubMed ID | 19810192 |
|
|
| |
Advertise on this site.
| | |
|
