Wits Evolutionary Studies Institute (ESI)

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    Taxonomic and taphonomic interpretations of newly excavated in situ GD 2 faunal remains at Gondolin
    (The Evolutionary Studies Institute, 2024-01) Engelbrecht, Micke; Val, Aurore; Kibii, Job M.; Steininger, Christine
    Gondolin is one of the fossil-bearing karstic localities in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. Periodic excavations of calcified and decalcified sediments at several loci (GD 1,GD2 andGDA) over the last few decades have yielded a sizeable sample of Plio-Pleistocene fauna, including two hominin teeth from ex situ deposits. In 2015, renewed excavations were conducted at the GD 2 locality, which consists of decalcified in situ deposits, in order to shed more light on the site’s complex formation processes as well as to try finding new hominin material from a stratigraphically secured context. While these excavations did not yield any hominin material, abundant macrovertebrate remains were recovered. This paper presents the taxonomic composition and taphonomic characteristics of this new faunal assemblage. The occurrence of Equus sp. as well as the extinct species Metridiochoerus andrewsi and Hystrix makapanensis places the assemblage in a depositional age bracket of 2.33–1.78 Ma, which is consistent with ages already proposed forGD2. No primate material was recovered. The assemblage displays a taxonomic and bodyweight bias towards small-bodied (size classes I and II) bovids. The taphonomic characteristics of the bovid remains suggest the selective action of a leopard-like carnivore and while there is no direct evidence that the locality was used as a hyaena den, secondary scavenging by hyaenids cannot be excluded. Porcupines played an ancillary role in the bone accumulation. We performed intra- and inter-site taxonomic and taphonomic comparisons between this faunal sample and fossil assemblages from previously excavated localities at Gondolin (GD 1, GD 2 and GD A), as well as from other Paranthropus robustus-bearing sites in the Cradle of Humankind. These comparisons indicate that this new sample closely resembles the faunal assemblage previously collected from in situ calcified sediments at the GD 2 locality, in terms of species composition, bovid size class distribution, carnivore to ungulate ratio, and general taphonomic characterization.
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    The pre-eminence of the Karoo Basin in the knowledge of the Permo-Jurassic cynodonts: a historical synthesis and taxonomical quantification
    (Evolutionary Studies Institute, 2023) Abdala, Fernando; Hendrickx, Christophe; Jasinoski, Sandra C; Gaetano, Leandro C; Liu, Jun
    The search for the ancestors of mammals is historically connected with the extensive Karoo Basin of South Africa. This is because the Karoo features some of the largest exposures of Permo-Jurassic terrestrial deposits in the world and fossil discoveries were made here early in the history of palaeontology. Among the mammal-like lineages that are well-represented in Karoo fossil assemblages are the cynodonts. Originally conceived as a group exclusively containing fossil taxa, Cynodontia was subsequently redefined to include living mammals, and its Permian and early Mesozoic members are now referred to as non-mammaliaform cynodonts. Here we present a historical account of the research programme on non-mammaliaform cynodonts in the Karoo Basin, which represent the most important record of this group in the world. It covers a time spanning from the first named species in 1859 until the present day, which we arbitrarily divided into three periods: the Early Period extending from 1859 until 1932, the Second Period from 1933 to 1982, and the Current Period from 1983 until now. In the context of the global record of named species, we present quantitative analyses documenting the total number of nominal non-mammaliaform cynodont species from the Karoo (including junior synonyms and homonyms) as well as numerical comparison with taxa currently considered valid. Lastly, we compare the record of non-mammaliaform cynodont species from South Africa with other places in the world, such as Argentina and Brazil, which also have a diverse record of this group.
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    Discovering Hominins - Application of Medical Computed Tomography (CT) to Fossil-Bearing Rocks from the Site of Malapa, South Africa.
    (Public Library of Science, 2015-12-18) Smilg, J.S.; Berger, L.R.; Smilg, Jacqueline S.
    In the South African context, computed tomography (CT) has been used applied to individually prepared fossils and small rocks containing fossils, but has not been utilized on large breccia blocks as a means of discovering fossils, and particularly fossil hominins. Previous attempts at CT imaging of rocks from other South African sites for this purpose yielded disappointing results. For this study, 109 fossil- bearing rocks from the site of Malapa, South Africa were scanned with medical CT prior to manual preparation. The resultant images were assessed for accuracy of fossil identification and characterization against the standard of manual preparation. The accurate identification of fossils, including those of early hominins, that were not visible on the surface of individual blocks, is shown to be possible. The discovery of unexpected fossils is reduced, thus lowering the potential that fossils could be damaged through accidental encounter during routine preparation, or even entirely missed. This study should significantly change the way fossil discovery, recovery and preparation is done in the South African context and has potential for application in other palaeontological situations. Medical CT imaging is shown to be reliable, readily available, cost effective and accurate in finding fossils within matrix conglomerates. Improvements in CT equipment and in CT image quality are such that medical CT is now a viable imaging modality for this palaeontological application.
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    A new dicynodont (Anomodontia: Emydopoidea) from the terminal Permian of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    (Evolutionary Studies Institute, 2019-04) Kammerer, Christian F.
    A new taxon of dicynodont (Thliptosaurus imperforatus gen. et sp. nov.) is described based on a dorsoventrally-crushed skull from latest Permian (upper Daptocephalus Assemblage Zone) strata in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Thliptosaurus is distinguished from all other dicynodonts by an elongate intertemporal bar with broad dorsal exposure of the parietals but apparently no pineal foramen. Absence of the pineal foramen in dicynodonts is exceedingly rare; the only other taxa which exhibit this feature either have substantially broader (Kawingasaurus fossilis) or narrower (Kombuisia frerensis) intertemporal regions. Inclusion of Thliptosaurus in a phylogenetic analysis of dicynodonts recovers it as a kingoriid emydopoid, a position supported by its anteriorly-restricted pterygoid keel, elongate, curved anterior process of the lacrimal, relatively posterior position of the median pterygoid plate, and occlusion of the mandibular fenestra by a lateral plate of the dentary. Intriguingly, even in the other kingoriids which retain a pineal foramen (Dicynodontoides spp. and Kombuisia antarctica), this structure is reduced in size relative to other dicynodonts, suggesting that the pineal eye was less important for thermoregulatory activity in this clade than in other anomodonts. Although part of a local fauna including taxa that are otherwise widespread in the Karoo Basin (Daptocephalus, Lystrosaurus), the unique presence of Thliptosaurus in the relatively poorly-sampled Daptocephalus Assemblage Zone deposits of KwaZulu-Natal suggests that this region may preserve endemic taxa, and should be prioritized for future fieldwork.
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    Histological evidence of trauma in tusks of southern African dicynodonts
    (Evolutionary Studies Institute, 2019-01) Whitney, Megan R.; Tse, Yuen Ting; Sidor, Christian A.
    Dicynodonts were a clade of globally-distributed therapsids known for their abundance in the fossil record and for surviving the Permo-Triassic mass extinction. The group had distinctive dental adaptations including a beak and, in many species, paired maxillary tusks. The function of these tusks has long been of interest, yet remains poorly understood.We report here on two instances of unusual morphology in tusk dentine from specimens of: 1) Lystrosaurus from the Karoo Basin of South Africa and, 2) an unidentified dicynodontoid from the Luangwa Basin of Zambia. In both, the cross-sectional shape of the tusk root is lobed and infolded, which histological features suggest is a result of abnormal dentine deposition. We infer that this abnormal morphology is likely the consequence of trauma given its reparative nature and structural similarities to trauma-related morphologies reported in the tusks of modern elephants. This study demonstrates that histological sampling of dicynodont tusks can shed light on the biology of this important clade of therapsids.
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    Cranial morphology and phylogenetic analysis of Cynosaurus suppostus (Therapsida, Cynodontia) from the upper Permian of the Karoo Basin, South Africa
    (Evolutionary Studies Institute, 2018-03) van den Brandt, Marc; Abdala, Fernando
    Non-mammaliaform cynodonts are an important fossil lineage which include the ancestors of mammals and which illustrate the gradual evolution of mammalian characteristics. The earliest cynodonts (‘basal cynodonts’) are known from the late Permian. Cynosaurus suppostus is the second most abundant basal cynodont from the late Permian of the Karoo Basin of SouthAfrica, but is poorly studied, with the most recent description of this taxon being 50 years old. Since then, several important new specimens of this species have been collected, meriting a thorough description of its cranial anatomy and exploration of its interspecific variation. Here we present a comprehensive description of the cranial morphology of Cynosaurus suppostus, producing an updated diagnosis for the species and comparisons amongst basal cynodonts. Cynosaurus is identified by three autapomorphies amongst basal cynodonts: a subvertical mentum on the anterior lower jaw; a robust mandible with a relatively high horizontal ramus; and the broadest snout across the canine region, representing up to 31.74% of basal skull length. One of the new specimens described here preserves orbital scleral ossicles, structures rarely preserved in non-mammaliaform cynodonts. Cynosaurus is now only the third cynodont in which scleral ossicles have been reported.Anupdated phylogenetic analysis of basal cynodont interrelationships recovered Cynosaurus suppostus as a member of the Galesauridae in only two of 16 most parsimonious trees, providing poor support for its inclusion in that family. The majority of known Cynosaurus specimens were collected in a geographically restricted area approximately 150 kilometres in diameter. Most specimens have been recovered from the latest Permian Daptocephalus Assemblage Zone, with only two specimens known from the older Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone.
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    Comparison of Holocene temperature data (Boomplaas Cave) and oxygen isotope data (Cango Caves)
    (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2016-05) Thackeray, J.F.
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    An Acheulean handaxe from Gladysvale Cave site, Gauteng, South Africa.
    (Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), 2006-03) Hall, G.; Pickering, R.; Lacruz, R.; Hancox, J.; Berger, L.R.; Schmid, P.
    WE DESCRIBE A SINGLE HANDAXE FROM fossiliferous breccias at Gladysvale Cave, South Africa. The artefact is the only known tool so far discovered during the controlled excavations conducted at this site over the last decade, and was recovered from decalcified sediments near the stratigraphic interface of two breccia units, making it difficult to assign it with confidence to either. The morphology of the handaxe indicates a middle-late Acheulean industry, and preliminary electron spin resonance and palaeomagnetic dating suggest an age of greater than 780 000 years.
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    Carnivoran remains from the Malapa hominin site, South Africa.
    (Public Library of Science, 2011-11-03) Kuhn, B.F.; Werdelin, L.; Hartstone-Rose, A.; Lacruz, R.S.; Berger, L.R.
    Recent discoveries at the new hominin-bearing deposits of Malapa, South Africa, have yielded a rich faunal assemblage associated with the newly described hominin taxon Australopithecus sediba. Dating of this deposit using U-Pb and palaeomagnetic methods has provided an age of 1.977 Ma, being one of the most accurately dated, time constrained deposits in the Plio-Pleistocene of southern Africa. To date, 81 carnivoran specimens have been identified at this site including members of the families Canidae, Viverridae, Herpestidae, Hyaenidae and Felidae. Of note is the presence of the extinct taxon Dinofelis cf. D. barlowi that may represent the last appearance date for this species. Extant large carnivores are represented by specimens of leopard (Panthera pardus) and brown hyaena (Parahyaena brunnea). Smaller carnivores are also represented, and include the genera Atilax and Genetta, as well as Vulpes cf. V. chama. Malapa may also represent the first appearance date for Felis nigripes (Black-footed cat). The geochronological age of Malapa and the associated hominin taxa and carnivoran remains provide a window of research into mammalian evolution during a relatively unknown period in South Africa and elsewhere. In particular, the fauna represented at Malapa has the potential to elucidate aspects of the evolution of Dinofelis and may help resolve competing hypotheses about faunal exchange between East and Southern Africa during the late Pliocene or early Pleistocene.
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    Taphonomic analysis of the faunal assemblage associated with the hominins (Australopithecus sediba) from the early pleistocene cave deposits of Malapa, South Africa.
    (Public Library of Science, 2015-06-10) Val, A.; Dirks, P.H.G.M.; Backwell, L.R.; Berger, L.R.; D'Errico, F.
    Here we present the results of a taphonomic study of the faunal assemblage associated with the hominin fossils (Australopithecus sediba) from the Malapa site. Results include estimation of body part representation, mortality profiles, type of fragmentation, identification of breakage patterns, and microscopic analysis of bone surfaces. The diversity of the faunal spectrum, presence of animals with climbing proclivities, abundance of complete and/or articulated specimens, occurrence of antimeric sets of elements, and lack of carnivore-modified bones, indicate that animals accumulated via a natural death trap leading to an area of the cave system with no access to mammalian scavengers. The co-occurrence of well preserved fossils, carnivore coprolites, deciduous teeth of brown hyaena, and some highly fragmented and poorly preserved remains supports the hypothesis of a mixing of sediments coming from distinct chambers, which collected at the bottom of the cave system through the action of periodic water flow. This combination of taphonomic features explains the remarkable state of preservation of the hominin fossils as well as some of the associated faunal material.