Dental microwear and Pliocene paleocommunity ecology of bovids, primates, rodents, and suids at Kanapoi.

Journal of Human Evolution
Peter S UngarC V Ward

Abstract

Reconstructions of habitat at sites like Kanapoi are key to understanding the environmental circumstances in which hominins evolved during the early Pliocene. While Australopithecus anamensis shows evidence of terrestrial bipedality traditionally associated with a more open setting, its enamel has low δ13C values consistent with consumption of C3 foods, which predominate in wooded areas of tropical Africa. Habitat proxies, ranging from paleosols and their carbonates to associated herbivore fauna and their carbon isotope ratios, suggest a heterogeneous setting with both grass and woody plant components, though the proportions of each have been difficult to pin down. Here we bring dental microwear texture analysis of herbivorous fauna to bear on the issue. We present texture data for fossil bovids, primates, rodents, and suids (n = 107 individuals in total) from the hominin bearing deposits at Kanapoi, and interpret these in the light of closely related extant mammals with known differences in diet. The Kanapoi bovid results, for example, are similar to those for extant variable grazers or graze-browse intermediate taxa. The Kanapoi suid data vary by taxon, with one similar to the pattern of extant grazers and the other more clos...Continue Reading

References

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May 26, 2016·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Lucas K DelezenePeter S Ungar
Aug 23, 2016·Ecology and Evolution·Anusha RamdarshanGildas Merceron

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Citations

Nov 24, 2018·Science·René Bobe, Susana Carvalho
Apr 12, 2019·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Peter S UngarAlyssa N Crittenden
May 12, 2021·Royal Society Open Science·Jordan BestwickMark A Purnell

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