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Ptolemaiida
Ptolemaiida is a taxon of wolf-sized afrothere mammals that lived in northern and eastern Africa during the Paleogene. The oldest fossils are from the latest Eocene strata of the Jebel Qatrani Formation, near the Fayum oasis in Egypt. A tooth is known from an Oligocene-aged stratum in Angola, and Miocene specimens (of '' Kelba'') are known from Kenya and Uganda The origin of the Ptolemaiida is obscure, and debated. The type species was originally thought to be a primate, but, later, when elongated skulls with long canines of ''Ptolemaia'' and '' Qarunavus'' were found, they were then thought to be hyaenodontids, or giant, carnivorous relatives of the pantolestids '' Palaeosinopa'', and of modern shrews The family Ptolemaiidae was elevated to order level in 1995, although some experts later placed the Ptolemaiidae within the pantolestids. Recently, Ptolemaiida has been placed within Afrotheria on the basis of paleobiology, as the taxon was endemic to Africa, and because of so ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cleopatrodon
''Cleopatrodon'' is an extinct genus of mammals in the order Ptolemaiida. Two species are known from the Lower Oligocene Jebel Qatrani Formation of modern-day Egypt: ''C. ayeshae'', and the more powerfully built ''C. robusta''. The genus is named for Cleopatra VII Philopator, the last Ptolemaic Queen of Egypt. Features ''Cleopatrodon'', like all ptolemaiids, can most easily be identified from its unusual teeth. They were quite unspecialised at the anterior end of the mouth, with canines and incisors of a similar size, but the premolars and molars are very unusual. There are four premolars, rather than three as in most mammals, and three molars. In the lower jaw the premolars increased in size from premolar 1 to 4, and the molars decreased from 1 to 3, creating a smooth curve. The first and second premolars are large but similar to many mammal premolars, with one large cusp, although they did not seem to have been able to exert much shearing force. The third and fourth premolar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Qarunavus
''Qarunavus'' is an extinct genus of mammals in the order Ptolemaiida. A single species, ''Qarunavus meyeri'' is known from the Lower Oligocene Jebel Qatrani Formation of modern-day Egypt. Described by Elwyn Simons & Philip Gingerich in 1974, the genus name is a combination of ''Qarun'', the Arabic term for Lake Moeris, and -''avus'', Latin for "ancestor". The specific epithet honors Grant E. Mayer of the Yale Peabody Museum The Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University is among the oldest, largest, and most prolific university natural history museums in the world. It was founded by the philanthropist George Peabody in 1866 at the behest of his nephew Ot .... References Oligocene mammals of Africa Fossil taxa described in 1974 Ptolemaiidans Prehistoric placental genera {{Paleo-afrotheria-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Afroinsectiphilia
The Afroinsectiphilia (African insectivores) is a clade that has been proposed based on the results of recent molecular phylogenetic studies. Many of the taxa within it were once regarded as part of the order Insectivora, but Insectivora is now considered to be polyphyletic and obsolete. This proposed classification is based on molecular studies only, and there is no morphological evidence for it. The golden moles, otter shrews and tenrecs are part of this clade. Some also regard the elephant shrews and aardvarks as part of it, although these two orders were traditionally seen as primitive ungulates. The sister group of the Afroinsectiphilia is the Paenungulata, which were also traditionally regarded as ungulates. If the clade of Afrotheria is genuine, then the Afroinsectiphilia are the closest relatives of the Pseudoungulata (here regarded as part of Afroinsectiphilia) and the Paenungulata. In a classification governed by morphological data, both the Pseudoungulata and Paenun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ptolemaia
''Ptolemaia'' is a genus of extinct Afrotherian mammals from the Oligocene of East Africa. The genus and type species, ''P. lyonsi'', was described by Henry Fairfield Osborn in 1908 from the Jebel Qatrani Formation The Jebel Qatrani Formation (also Gebel Qatrani) is a palaeontological and geologic formation located in the Faiyum Governorate of central Egypt. Conformably overlying the Qasr el Sagha Formation. It is exposed namely between the Jebel Qatrani ... of Egypts' Fayum Depression. The genus name alludes to the Ptolemaic dynasty of Ancient Greece which ruled over the Egyptian region where ''Ptolemaia'' was discovered, while the specific epithet ''lyonsi'' honors H. G. Lyons, then director of the Egyptian Geological Survey. A second species, ''P. grangeri'', was described in 1987, and named after the early 20th century paleontologist Walter W. Granger. Fossils of ''P. grangeri'' are also known from Kenya. References Oligocene mammals of Africa Ptolemaiidans ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Afrotheria
Afrotheria ( from Latin ''Afro-'' "of Africa" + ''theria'' "wild beast") is a clade of mammals, the living members of which belong to groups that are either currently living in Africa or of African origin: golden moles, elephant shrews (also known as sengis), tenrecs, aardvarks, hyraxes, elephants, sea cows, and several extinct clades. Most groups of afrotheres share little or no superficial resemblance, and their similarities have only become known in recent times because of genetics and molecular studies. Many afrothere groups are found mostly or exclusively in Africa, reflecting the fact that Africa was an island continent from the Cretaceous until the early Miocene around 20 million years ago, when Afro-Arabia collided with Eurasia. Because Africa was isolated by water, Laurasian groups of mammals such as insectivores, rodents, lagomorphs, carnivorans and ungulates could not reach Africa for much of the early to mid-Cenozoic. Instead, the niches occupied by those groups on the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tubulidentata
Orycteropodidae is a family of afrotherian mammals. Although there are many fossil species, the only species surviving today is the aardvark, ''Orycteropus afer''. Orycteropodidae is recognized as the only family within the order Tubulidentata (Latin: "tube" (tubulis), "tooth" (dentis)), so the two are effectively synonyms. Evolution The first aardvark fossil discovered was originally named ''Orycteropus gaudryi'' (now ''Amphiorycteropus'') and was found in Turolian deposits on the island of Samos. Since then, representatives of the order Tubulidentata have been located from the Oligocene in what is now Europe, and it is believed that the order probably originated around 65–70 million years ago or in the Paleocene. They are thought to be closely related to the now extinct Ptolemaiida, a lineage of carnivorous afrotheres. The family arose in Africa in the Early Miocene epoch, and spread to Eurasia later in the Miocene. Most of the family's diversity had become extinct by the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kelba Quadeemae
''Kelba quadeemae'' is an extinct species of ptolemaiidan mammal, the sole species of the family Kelbidae, known from the Lower Miocene The Early Miocene (also known as Lower Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages. The sub-epoch lasted from 23.03 ± 0.05 Ma to 15.97 ± 0.05 Ma (million years ago). It was prec ... of East Africa. The genus name ''Kelba'' derives from the Arabic (pronounced ''kalb'' or ''kelb'') meaning "dog", and the specific name ''quadeemae'' from the Arabic ''quadeem'', meaning "ancient". ''Kelba'' is only known from a partial skull and teeth, but estimated to have been (around 15 kg), similar in size to a coyote but more heavily built. The teeth are rather unspecialized, suggesting a wide and varied diet, and show wear suggesting its diet included abrasive material. References Ptolemaiidans Miocene mammals of Africa Fossil taxa described in 1965 {{Paleo-afrotheria-s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kelba (genus)
''Kelba quadeemae'' is an extinct species of ptolemaiidan mammal, the sole species of the family Kelbidae, known from the Lower Miocene The Early Miocene (also known as Lower Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages. The sub-epoch lasted from 23.03 ± 0.05 Ma to 15.97 ± 0.05 Ma (million years ago). It was prec ... of East Africa. The genus name ''Kelba'' derives from the Arabic (pronounced ''kalb'' or ''kelb'') meaning "dog", and the specific name ''quadeemae'' from the Arabic ''quadeem'', meaning "ancient". ''Kelba'' is only known from a partial skull and teeth, but estimated to have been (around 15 kg), similar in size to a coyote but more heavily built. The teeth are rather unspecialized, suggesting a wide and varied diet, and show wear suggesting its diet included abrasive material. References Ptolemaiidans Miocene mammals of Africa Fossil taxa described in 1965 {{Paleo-afrotheria-s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aardvark
The aardvark ( ; ''Orycteropus afer'') is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa. It is the only living species of the order Tubulidentata, although other prehistoric species and genera of Tubulidentata are known. Unlike most other insectivores, it has a long pig-like snout, which is used to sniff out food. It roams over most of the southern two-thirds of the African continent, avoiding areas that are mainly rocky. A nocturnal feeder, it subsists on ants and termites, which it will dig out of their hills using its sharp claws and powerful legs. It also digs to create burrows in which to live and rear its young. The animal is listed as "least concern" by the IUCN, although its numbers are decreasing. Aardvarks are afrotheres, a clade which also includes elephants, manatees, and hyraxes. Name and taxonomy Name The aardvark is sometimes colloquially called the "African ant bear", "anteater" (not to be confused with the anteater, South American anteater), ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jebel Qatrani Formation
The Jebel Qatrani Formation (also Gebel Qatrani) is a palaeontological and geologic formation located in the Faiyum Governorate of central Egypt. Conformably overlying the Qasr el Sagha Formation. It is exposed namely between the Jebel Qatrani escarpment and the Qasr el Sagha escarpment, north of Birket Qarun lake near Faiyum. Geology These rocks were laid down in the Eocene- Oligocene period ( Priabonian - Rupelian). This formation was originally thought to be between 35.4 and 33.3 million years old, based on initial analysis of the formation. However, analysis by Erik Seiffert in 2006 concluded that the age of the Jebel Qatrani Formation should be revised. His assessment of more recent evidence indicates an age for most of the formation of between 30.2 and 29.5 million years ago, placing it almost entirely in the Early Oligocene. Seiffert states that only the lowest 48 metres was laid down in the Eocene, but recent opinion holds the original hypothesis of a sediment straddli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paraphyletic
In taxonomy (general), taxonomy, a group is paraphyletic if it consists of the group's most recent common ancestor, last common ancestor and most of its descendants, excluding a few Monophyly, monophyletic subgroups. The group is said to be paraphyletic ''with respect to'' the excluded subgroups. In contrast, a monophyletic group (a clade) includes a common ancestor and ''all'' of its descendants. The terms are commonly used in phylogenetics (a subfield of biology) and in the tree model of historical linguistics. Paraphyletic groups are identified by a combination of Synapomorphy and apomorphy, synapomorphies and symplesiomorphy, symplesiomorphies. If many subgroups are missing from the named group, it is said to be polyparaphyletic. The term was coined by Willi Hennig to apply to well-known taxa like Reptilia (reptiles) which, as commonly named and traditionally defined, is paraphyletic with respect to mammals and birds. Reptilia contains the last common ancestor of reptiles a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hyaenodontidae
Hyaenodontidae ("hyena teeth") is a family of extinct predatory mammals from extinct superfamily Hyaenodontoidea within extinct order Hyaenodonta. Hyaenodontids arose during the early Eocene and persisted well into the early Miocene. Fossils of this group have been found in Asia, North America and Europe. (1985): ''The Field Guide to Prehistoric Life.'' Facts on File Publications, New York. Classification and phylogeny Taxonomy * Family: †Hyaenodontidae ** Genus: †'' Boritia'' *** †''Boritia duffaudi'' ** Genus: †'' Neosinopa'' *** †''Neosinopa gobiensis'' ** Genus: †'' Praecodens'' *** †''Praecodens acutus'' ** Genus: †'' Preregidens'' *** †''Preregidens langebadrae'' ** Genus: †'' Protoproviverra'' *** †''Protoproviverra palaeonictides'' ** (unranked): †''Cynohyaenodon''/''Quercytherium'' clade *** Genus: †''Cynohyaenodon'' (paraphyletic genus) **** †''Cynohyaenodon cayluxi'' **** †''Cynohyaenodon lautricensis'' **** †''Cynohyaenodo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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