Cranial evidence for the presence of a second endemic elephant species on Cyprus
Cranial evidence for the presence of a second endemic elephant species on Cyprus
复制标题
塞浦路斯存在第二种特有大象物种的颅骨证据
DOI:
10.1016/j.quaint.2015.05.065
复制
发表时间:
2015
影响因子:
2.2
通讯作者:
Athanassiou A
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Athanassiou A
Cyprus, the largest Eastern Mediterranean island, hosted a highly impoverished endemic mammalian fauna during the Pleistocene to early Holocene times. This was a result of its extreme biogeographic isolation since its formation, which prevented the immigration of most terrestrial mammals, except for those with apparent sea channel crossing abilities. The main faunal elements are the extremely dwarfed hippoPhanourios minor, commonly found in many sites across the island, and the dwarf elephantPalaeoloxodon cypriotes. The latter is a very small-sized elephant species, comparable in size with the Siculo-MaltesePalaeoloxodon falconeri. Larger dental specimens found sporadically during the last century, raised the possibility that a second endemic elephant, larger thanP. cypriotes, may have also existed in Cyprus. Here we describe a skull recently excavated in the coastal area of Xylophágou, SE Cyprus, which provides evidence that, indeed, two elephant species have existed on the island. The larger species,Palaeoloxodon xylophagoun. sp., is still strongly dwarfed and characterised by elongated, low and wide skull, diverging tusk alveoli and comparatively large molars. Dimensionally the dentition is distinctly larger thanP. cypriotesand close toPalaeoloxodon tiliensis, though the skull size is intermediate betweenP. tiliensisandP. falconeri. Both Cypriot elephant species exhibit morphological affinities withPalaeoloxodon antiquus, which is their probable ancestor. Stratigraphic data suggest thatP. xylophagouis older (late Middle Pleistocene), whileP. cypriotesis more recent (latest Pleistocene to early Holocene) and may have descended from the former or – less probably – evolved as a result of a separate, more recent colonisation event.
登录
查看更多内容
DOI:
--
发表时间:
1999
期刊:
Scripta Geologica
影响因子:
--
作者:
G. D. Bergh
通讯作者:
G. D. Bergh
DOI:
--
发表时间:
2001
期刊:
影响因子:
--
作者:
M. R. Palombo
通讯作者:
M. R. Palombo
DOI:
--
发表时间:
2003
期刊:
影响因子:
--
作者:
C. Doukas;A. Athanassiou
通讯作者:
A. Athanassiou
DOI:
--
发表时间:
2008
期刊:
影响因子:
--
作者:
M. Ferretti
通讯作者:
M. Ferretti
DOI:
--
发表时间:
1977
期刊:
影响因子:
--
作者:
則久 犬塚
通讯作者:
則久 犬塚