The new Algerian locality of Bir el Ater 3: validity of Libycosaurus algeriensis (Mammalia, Hippopotamoidea) and the age of the Nementcha Formation

Fabrice Lihoreau, Lionel Hautier and Mahammed Mahboubi

Cite this article: Lihoreau F., Hautier L., Mahboubi M., 2015. The new Algerian locality of Bir el Ater 3: validity of Libycosaurus algeriensis (Mammalia, Hippopotamoidea) and the age of the Nementcha Formation. Palaeovertebrata 39 (2)-e1. doi: 10.18563/pv.39.2.e1

Save to Mendeley
Save to BibTeX

Abstract

The description of original material of anthracothere and proboscidean in the new locality of Bir el Ater 3 from East Algeria, and a thorough review of early Libycosaurus remains of Bir el Ater 2 allows us validating L. algeriensis as the smallest and earliest species of Libycosaurus and probably the earliest migrant of the genus from Asia. The presence of a Tetralophodon in the Neogene Nementcha formation might represent the earliest occurrence of the genus in Africa. These original fossil remains allow us to discuss the age of the Neogene part of the Nementcha formation close to the Serravalian/Tortonian boundary. 

Bibliography

Alloing-Séguier, L., Lihoreau, F., Boisserie, J.-R., Charruault, A.-L., Orliac, M., Tabuce, R., 2014. Enamel microstructure evolution in anthracotheres (Mammalia, Cetartiodactyla) and new insights on hippopotamoid phylogeny. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 171, 668-695. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/zoj.12143
 
Arnason, U., Gullberg, A., Gretarsdottir, S., Ursing, B., Janke, A., 2000. The mitochondrial genome of the sperm whale and a new molecular reference for estimating eutherian divergence dates. Journal of Molecular Evolution 50(6), 569-578.
 
Bergounioux, F.-M., Crouzel, F., 1956. Présence de Tetralophodon longirostris dans le Vindobonien inférieur de Tunisie. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France 6, 431-443.
 
Bernor, R. L., Armour-Chelu, M. J., Gilbert, H., Kaiser, T. M., Schulz, E., 2010. Equidae. In: Werdelin, L., Sanders, W. J. (Eds.), Cenozoic Mammals of Africa. University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London, pp. 685-721. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/california/9780520257214.003.0035
 
Black, C. C, 1972. A new species of Merycopotamus (Artiodactyla : Anthracotheriidae) from the late Miocene of Tunisia. Notes du service Géologique de Tunis 37, 5-37.
 
Boisserie, J.-R, Lihoreau, F., Orliac, M., Fisher, R. E., Weston, E. M., Ducrocq, S., 2010. Morphology and phylogenetic relationships of the earliest known hippopotamids (Cetartiodactyla, Hippopotamidae, Kenyapotaminae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 158, 325-366. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00548.x

 
Bonarelli, G., 1947. Dinosauro fossile del Sahara Cirenaico. Rivista Biologica Colonial Roma 8, 23-33.
 
Bonis, L. De, Jaeger, J.-J., Coiffait, B., Coiffait P.-E., 1988. Découverte du plus ancien primate Catarrhinien connu dans l’Eocène supérieur d’Afrique du Nord. Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences, Série 2 306 (13), 929-934.
 
Chow, M., Chang, Y., 1974. Proboscidean fossils of China. Beijing: Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology 74 pp.
 
Coiffait, P.-E., Coiffait, B., Jaeger, J.J., Mabhoubi, M., 1984. Un nouveau gisement à mammifères fossiles d’âge Eocène supérieur sur le versant sud des Nementcha (Algérie orientale) : découverte des plus anciens rongeurs d’Afrique. Comptes rendu de l’Académie des Sciences, Paris 299, 893-898.
 
Coppens, Y., Maglio, V. J., Madden, C. T., Beden, M., 1978. Proboscidea. In: Maglio, V. J., Cooke H. B. S. (Eds.), Evolution of African Mammals. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, pp. 336-367. http://dx.doi.org/10.4159/harvard.9780674431263.c18
 
Dong ,W., 1987. Miocene mammalian fauna of Xiaolongtan, Yunnan Province. Vertebrata Palasiatica 25,116-123.
 
Douady, C. J., Catzeflis, F., Raman, J., Springer, M. S., Stanhope, M. J., 2003. The Sahara as a vicariant agent, and the role of Miocene climatic events, in the diversification of the mammalian order Macroscellidea (elephant shrews). Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 100 (14), 8325-8330. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0832467100

 
Ducrocq, S., Coiffait, B., Coiffait P.-E., Mahboubi, M., Jaeger, J.-J. 2001. The miocene Anthracotheriidae (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the Nementcha, eastern Algeria. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Monatshefte 3, 145-156.
 
Falconer, H., 1857. On the species of mastodon and elephant occurring in the fossil state of Great Britain. Part I. Mastodon. Quaterly Journal of the Geological Society of London 13, 307-360. http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/GSL.JGS.1857.013.01-02.43
 
Gaziry, A. W., 1987. 15. Remains of Proboscidea from the early Pliocene of Sahabi, Libya. In: Boaz, N. T., El-Arnauti, A., Gaziry, A. W. (Eds.), Neogene Paleontology and Geology of Sahabi. John Wiley and Sons, New-York, pp. 183-203.
 
Gentry, A. W., Hooker, J. J., 1988. The phylogeny of the Artiodactyla. In Benton, M. J. (Ed.), The phylogeny and classification of the Tetrapods, volume 2, Mammals. Systematic Association Special Volume 35B, Clarendon Press, Oxford, pp. 235-272.
 
Geraads, D., 1989. Vertébrés fossiles du Miocène supérieur du Djebel Krechem El Artsouma (Tunisie centrale). Comparaisons stratigraphiques. Geobios 22, 777-801. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0016-6995(89)80072-5
 
Geraads, D., Alemseged, Z., Bellon, H., 2002. The late Miocene mammalian fauna of Chorora, Awash basin, Ethiopia: systematics, biochronology and the 40K-40Ar ages of the associated volcanics. Tertiary Research 21, 113-122.
 
Gray, J. E., 1821. On the natural arrangement of vertebrose animals. London Medical Repository 15, 296-310.
 
Griffin, D. L., 2002. Aridity and humidity: two aspects of the late Miocene climate of North Africa and the Mediterranean. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 2808, 1-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0031-0182(01)00453-9
 
Hautier, L., Mackaye, H. T., Lihoreau, F., Tassy, P., Vignaud, P., Brunet, M., 2009. New material of Anancus kenyensis (Proboscidea, Mammalia) from Toros-Menalla (Late Miocene, Chad): Contribution to the systematics of African anancines. Journal of African Earth Sciences 53 (4-5), 171-176. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2009.01.003
 
Hay, O. P., 1922. Further observations on some extinct elephants. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 35, 97-101.
 
Hopwood, A. T., 1935. Fossil Proboscidea from China. Palaeontologia Sinica 9 (3), 1-109.
 
Illiger, C. D., 1811. Prodromus systematis mammalium et avium additis terminis zoographicis uttriusque classis. Salfeld, Berlin.
 
Kaup, J. J., 1832. Ueber zwei Fragmente eines Unterkiefers von Mastodon angustidens Cuv., nach welchen diese Art in die Gattung Tetracaulodon Godmann gehört. Isis, 25, 628-631.
 
Leidy, J., 1869. The extinct mammalian fauna of Dakota and Nebraska. Journal of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences 7, 1-472.
 
Lihoreau, F., Barry, J., Blondel, C., Brunet, M., 2004. A new species of Anthracotheriidae, Merycopotamus medioximus nov. sp. from the Late Miocene of the Potwar Plateau, Pakistan. Comptes rendus Palevol, 3, 653-662. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.crpv.2004.07.001
 
Lihoreau, F., Boisserie, J.-R., Viriot, L., Coppens, Y., Likius, A., Mackaye, H. T., Tafforeau, P., Vignaud, P., Brunet, M., 2006. Anthracothere dental anatomy reveals a late Miocene Chado-Libyan bioprovince. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 103, 8763-8767. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0603126103
 
Lihoreau, F., Ducrocq, S., 2007. Family Anthracotheriidae. in Prothero, D. R., Foss, S. E., (eds), The Evolution of Artiodactyls. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, pp. 89-105.
 
Lihoreau, F., Barry, J., Blondel, C., Chaimanee, Y., Jaeger, J‑J., Brunet, M., 2007. Anatomical revision of the genus Merycopotamus [Artiodactyla; Anthracotheriidae]: its significance on late Miocene mammal dispersions in Asia. Palaeontology 50 (2), 503-524. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4983.2006.00643.x
 
Lihoreau, F., Boisserie, J. -R., Blondel, C., Jacques, L., Likius, A., Mackaye, H. T., Vignaud, P. Brunet, M., 2014. Description and palaeobiology of a new species of Libycosaurus (Cetartiodactyla, Anthracotheriidae) from the Late Miocene of Toros-Menalla, northern Chad. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 12 (7), 761-798. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2013.838609
 
Lihoreau, F., Boisserie, J.-R., Manthi, F. K., Ducrocq, S., 2015. Hippos stem from the longest sequence of terrestrial cetartiodactyl evolution in Africa. Nature Communications, 1-8. 6:6264, doi: 10.1038/ncomms7264. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms7264
 
Lydekker, R., 1877. Notices of new and other Vertebrata from Indian Tertiary and Secondary Rocks. Records of the Geological Survey of India 10, 1-3043.
 
Lydekker, R., 1886. Addenda to synopsis of Siwalik and Narbada Mammalia. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India Palaeontologia Indica 3, 11-24.
 
Maarel, F. H. van der, 1932. Contributions to the knowledge of the fossil mammalian fauna of Java. Wetenschappelijke Mededeelingen Dienst van de Mijnbouw in Nederlandsch Oost - Indie 15, 1-208.
 
Madden, C., 1977. Tetralophodon (Proboscidea, Gomphotheriidae) from the Subsaharan Africa. Revue de Zoologie Africaine 91, 152-160.
 
Madden, C. T., 1982. Primitive Stegotetrabelodon from latest Miocene of Subsaharan Africa (Proboscidea, Gomphoteriidae). Revue de Zoologie Africaine 96, 782-796.
 
Mahboubi, M., Tabuce, R., Mebrouk, F., Coiffait, B., Coiffait P.-E., Jaeger, J.-J., 2003. L’Eocène continental à vertébrés de la bordure sud des monts de Nementcha (Atlas Saharien oriental, Algérie) : précisions stratigraphiques et implications paléobiogéographiques. Bulletin du Service Géologique de l’Algérie 14 (1), 27-35.
 
Mannaï-Tayech, B., Otero, O., 2005. Un nouveau gisement miocène à ichthyofaune au sud de la chaîne des Chotts (Tunisie méridionale). Paléoenvironnement et paléobiogéographie. C. R. Palevol 4, 405-412. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.crpv.2005.04.005
 
Mannaï-Tayech, B., 2006. Miocene silicoclastic series from North-Eastern to South-Western of Tunisia: standpoint. Geobios 39, 71-84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geobios.2004.08.003
 
Mannaï-Tayech, B., 2009. The lithostratigraphy of Miocene series from Tunisia, revisited. Journal of African Earth Sciences 54, 53-61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2009.02.003
 
Montgelard, C., Catzeflis, F., Douzery, E., 1997. Phylogenetic relationships of artiodactyls and cetaceans as deduced from the comparison of cytochrome b and 12s rRNA mitochondrial sequences. Molecular Biology and Evolution 14: 550-532. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a025792
 
Nakaya, H., Pickford, M., Nakano, Y., Ishida, H., 1984. The Late Miocene large mammal fauna from the Namurungule Formation, Samburu Hills, Northern Kenya. African study monographs, supplementary issue 2, 87-131.
 
Nakaya, H., Pickford, M., Yasui, K., Nakano, Y., 1987. Additional Large Mammalian Fauna from the Namurungule Formation, Samburu Hills, Northern Kenya. African study monographs, supplementary issue 5, 79-129.
 
Osborn, H. F., 1936. Proboscidea. A monograph of the discovery, evolution, migration and distinction of the mastodonts and elephants of the world. The American Museum Press, New York, pp. 1-802.
 
Pickford, M., 1978. Stratigraphy and mammalian palaeontology of the late Miocene Lukeino Formation, Kenya. In: Bishop, W. W. (Ed.), Geological background to fossil man. Scottish Academy Press, Edinburgh, pp. 264-278.
 
Pickford, M., 2000. Crocodiles from the Beglia Formation, Middle/late Miocene boundary, Tunisia, and their significance for Saharan palaeoclimatology. Annales de Paléontologie 86 (1), 59-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0753-3969(00)88724-8
 
Pickford, M., 2006. Sexual and individual morphometric variation in Libycosaurus (Mammalia, anthracotheriidae) from the Maghreb and Libya. Geobios 39, 267-310. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geobios.2004.06.006
 
Pickford, M., 2009. Metric variation in Afromeryx and Libycosaurus (Anthracotheriidae: Mammalia) and its utility for biochronology. Revista Española de paleontologίa 24 (2), 107-120.
 
Qi, G., Dong, W., Zheng, L., Zhao, L., Gao, F., Yue, L., Zhang, Y., 2006. Taxonomy, age and environment status of the Yuanmou hominoids. Chinese Science Bulletin 51, 704-712. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11434-006-0704-5
 
Robinson, P., Black, C. C., 1969. Note préliminaire sur les vertébrés fossiles du Vindobonien (formation Béglia) du Bled Douarah, gouvernorat de Gafsa, Tunisie. Notes du service Géologique de Tunis 31, 67-70.
 
Robinson, P., Black, C. C., 1974. Vertebrate faunas from the Neogene of Tunisia. Annals of the Geological Survey of Egypt 4, 319-332.
 
Saegusa, H., Nakaya, H., Kunimatsu, Y., Nakatsukasa, M., Tsujikawa, H., Sawada, Y., Saneyoshi, M., Sakai, T., 2014. Earliest elephantid remains from the Late Miocene locality, Nakali, Kenya. Scientific Annals, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece VIth International Conference on Mammoths and their Relatives, Grevena - Siatista, special volume 102, 175.
 
Sanders, W. J., 1997. Fossil proboscidea from the Wembere-Manonga formation, Manonga valley, Tanzania. In: Harrison, T. (Ed.), Neogene Paleontology of the Manonga Valley, Tanzania, Vol. 14 of Topics in Geobiology. Plenum Press, New-York, pp. 265-310.
 
Sanders, W. J., Gheerbrant, E., Harris, J. M., Saegusa, H., Delmer, C., 2010. Proboscidea. In: Werdelin, L., Sanders, W. J. (Eds.), Cenozoic Mammals of Africa. University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London, pp. 161-251. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/california/9780520257214.003.0015
 
Sarwar, M., 1977. Taxonomy and distribution of the Siwalik Proboscidea. Bulletin of the department of Zoology of the University of Punjab 10, 1-172.
 
Schlessinger, G., 1917. Die mastodonten des K. K. naturhistorischen Hofmuseums. Denkschriften Kaiserlich Königlichen Naturhistorische Hofmuseum 1, 1-230.
 
Schlessinger, G., 1922. Die mastodonten der Budapester Sammlungen. Geologica Hungarica 2, 1-284.
 
Scott, W. B. 1940. Part IV: Artiodactyla. In Scott, W. B., Jepsen, G. L. (eds.), The mammalian fauna of the White River Oligocene. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 28, pp. 363-746.
 
Shoshani, J., Tassy, P., 1996. The Proboscidea. Evolution and palaeoecology of elephants and their relatives. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 472p.
 
Suwa, G., Kono, R. T., Katoh, S., Asfaw, B., Beyen, Y., 2007. A new species of great ape from the late Miocene epoch in Ethiopia. Nature 448, 921-924. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature06113
 
Tassy, P., 1983. Les Elephantoidea miocènes du plateau Potwar. Groupe de Siwalik, Pakistan. IIème partie: choerolophodontes et gomphothères. Annales de Paléontologie 69, 235-297. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-0031.1988.tb00467.x
 
Tassy, P., 1988. The classification of Proboscidea: how many cladistic classifications? Cladistics 4, 43-57.
 
Tassy, P., 1986. Nouveau Elephantoidea (Mammalia) dans le Miocène du Kenya, essai de réévaluation systématique. Cahiers de Paléontologie (Travaux de Paléontologie Est-Africaine). CNRS, Paris.
 
Tassy, P., 1994. Les proboscidiens (Mammalia) fossiles du rift occidental, Ouganda. In: Senut, B., Pickford, M. (Eds.), Geology and Palaeobiology of the Albertine Rift Valley, Uganda-Zaire. Vol. II: Palaeobiology. CIFEG, Orléans, pp. 217-257.
 
Tassy, P., 2003. Elephantoidea from Lothagam. In: Leakey, M. G., Harris, J. (Eds.), The dawn of humanity in Eastern Africa. Columbia University Press, New-York, pp. 331-352. 
 
Tiercelin, J-J., Michaux, J., Bandet, Y., 1979. Le Miocène supérieur du Sud de la dépression de l’Afar, Ethiopie : sédiments, faunes, âges isotopiques. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France 21, 255-258. http://dx.doi.org/10.2113/gssgfbull.S7-XXI.3.255
 
Tobien, H., 1978. On the evolution of Mastodonts (Proboscidea, Mammalia). Part 2: the bunodont tetralophodont groups. Geologisches Jahrbuch Hessen 106, 159-208.
 
Tobien, H., Chen, G., Li, Y., 1988. Mastodonts (Proboscidea, Mammalia) from the Late Neogene and Early Pleistocene of the People’s Republic of China. Mainzer Geowissenschaften Mitteilung 17, 95-220.
 
Tsujikawa, H., 2005. The updated late Miocene large mammal fauna from Samburu Hills, Northern Kenya. African study monographs, supplementary issue 32, 1-50.
 
Werdelin, L., 2010. Chronology of Neogene Mammal localities. In: Werdelin, L., Sanders, W. J. (Eds.), Cenozoic Mammals of Africa. University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London, pp. 27-43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/california/9780520257214.003.0003
 
Zouhri, S., Geraad, D., El Boughabi, S., El Harfi, A., 2013. Discovery of an Upper Miocene Vertebrate fauna near Tizi N’Tadderht, Skoura, Ouarzazate Basin (Central High Atlas, Morocco). Comptes Rendus Palevol 11, 455-461. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.crpv.2012.01.005