Reed 2008
Paleoenvironmental Implications of New Micromammal Fossils from the Hadar
and Busidima Formations, Ethiopia
This paper reviews the systematics, biogeography & paleo-environmental
implications of new micro-mammal discoveries from Hadar localities AL-894,
AL-666 & Dikika localities DIK�1 & DIK�2. Since the efforts of Sabatier
(1979, 1982), no work has been done on micro-mammals from the Hadar Fm.
The earlier studies focused on micro-mammal assemblages from the older (c
3.2 Ma) Sidi Hakoma Mbr. The new micro-mammal fossils from 4 localities in
the Basal (DIK�2), Sidi Hakoma (DIK�1) & ʺUpper Kada Hadarʺ Members (AL-
894/666) of the Hadar & Busidima Fms, resp., range from c 3.4 to 2.3 Ma.
They expand the known bio-diversity & associated habitat diversity of these
hominin bearing deposits. Multivariate ordination techniques are used to
explore the community composition & similarity to modern & fossil rodent
communities. The older faunas from DIK�2 & DIK�1 share much in common with
micro-mammals from Members B and C of the Omo Shungura Fm, while the
younger localities at AL-894/666 are similar to Bed I Olduvai.  Both
older & younger assemblages have bush & woodland adapted spp,
suggesting a rel.mesic
& closed environmental preference for A.afarensis & the tool making
hominins of the ʺUpper Kada Hadarʺ Member.

Denk:

So, this study agrees with me.  Early hominids did not live in
treeless savanna habitat.  And they didn't live in aquatic habitat.
They lived in treed habitat.
Yes, Pliocene E.African apes (Lucy etc.) lived in mesic & closed forests:
Not really.  These were monsoon forests.

??
Monsoon forests where Lucy lived??

Lucy had features suggesting:
- KWing (still less than extant gorillas)
- bipedality (believed by many PAs, but not unlikely)
- arm-hanging (curved phalanges etc.)
In what milieu are these 3 locomotions advantageous?
Yes, as the example of lowland gorillas shows, in swamp/mangrove forests:
- KWing on dry land & in very shallow water
- bipedal wading (& floating vertically: airsacs in ventral chest-neck)
- climbing vertically in branches above the water.
Google "Ndoki gorilla".
Or "Moroto vertebra": apes had a vertical spine since >19 Ma.

Lucy was found amid crab claws & crocodile eggs.

A.boisei (more open wetlands than is the case for Lucy) diet included cabs &
shellfish?

Alan Shabel:
2004 "The habitat and trophic preferences of Paranthropus, a new theoretical
model" AAJA abstracts:179  "... the most derived mbrs of Paranthropus
(aeth./boi. & crass.) inhabited wetland environments ; feeding on
hard-shelled invertebrate prey ... is consistent with anatomy,
bio-mechanics, dent.microwear, envir.context & community structure.  The new
model is testable thru an analysis of micro-wear & isotope signatures in
fossil & modern spms of Aonyx Cape clawless otter & Atilax marsh
mongoose..."

2007 "The paleobiology of the robust australopithecines (Paranthropus): a
test of the Durophage Model with trace element analysis" AAPA abstr.:215
"Most early Afr.hominin fossil localities are associated with ancient
wetlands ... argued that robust cranio-dental anatomy was an adaptation to a
diet incl.hard-shelled invertebrates (freshwater crabs, molluscs) ... the
hypothesis has not been falsified."

2008 "The paleobiology of the robust australopithecines (Paranthropus): a
test of the durophagous model with a morphometric analysis of carnivoran
skulls" AAPA abstracts: "... the cranio-dental apparatus of Paranthropus is
most similar to that of durophagous carnivorans that consume hard-shelled
invertebrates."

Walker 1981: "If, for example, a mammalogist who knows nothing about
hominids were asked which mammalian molar most resembled those of
Australopithecus, the answer would probably be the molars of the sea otter
(Enhydra lutris). This species possesses small anterior teeth, and large,
flat molars with thick enamel."

Op 13-05-2008 22:47, in artikel
734aa4e4-68e6-42c3-b838-988613097... at (no spam) f24g2000prh.googlegroups.com, Claudius
Denk <claudiusd... at (no spam) sbcglobal.net> schreef:





On May 11, 4:57 pm, Marc Verhaegen <m_verhae... at (no spam) skynet.be> wrote:
Reed 2008
Paleoenvironmental Implications of New Micromammal Fossils from the Hadar
and Busidima Formations, Ethiopia
This paper reviews the systematics, biogeography & paleo-environmental
implications of new micro-mammal discoveries from Hadar localities
AL-894,
AL-666 & Dikika localities DIK�1 & DIK�2. Since the efforts of Sabatier
(1979, 1982), no work has been done on micro-mammals from the Hadar Fm.
The earlier studies focused on micro-mammal assemblages from the older (c
3.2 Ma) Sidi Hakoma Mbr. The new micro-mammal fossils from 4 localities
in
the Basal (DIK�2), Sidi Hakoma (DIK�1) & ʺUpper Kada Hadarʺ Members (AL-
894/666) of the Hadar & Busidima Fms, resp., range from c 3.4 to 2.3 Ma.
They expand the known bio-diversity & associated habitat diversity of
these
hominin bearing deposits. Multivariate ordination techniques are used to
explore the community composition & similarity to modern & fossil rodent
communities. The older faunas from DIK�2 & DIK�1 share much in common
with
micro-mammals from Members B and C of the Omo Shungura Fm, while the
younger localities at AL-894/666 are similar to Bed I Olduvai.  Both
older & younger assemblages have bush & woodland adapted spp,
suggesting a rel.mesic
& closed environmental preference for A.afarensis & the tool making
hominins of the ʺUpper Kada Hadarʺ Member.

Denk:

So, this study agrees with me.  Early hominids did not live in
treeless savanna habitat.  And they didn't live in aquatic habitat.
They lived in treed habitat.
Yes, Pliocene E.African apes (Lucy etc.) lived in mesic & closed forests:
Not really.  These were monsoon forests.

??
Monsoon forests where Lucy lived??

Uh huh.

Difficulties with speaking? Is this an answer?

On May 11, 4:57 pm, Marc Verhaegen <m_verhae... at (no spam) skynet.be> wrote:
Reed 2008
Paleoenvironmental Implications of New Micromammal Fossils from the Hadar
and Busidima Formations, Ethiopia
This paper reviews the systematics, biogeography & paleo-environmental
implications of new micro-mammal discoveries from Hadar localities
AL-894,
AL-666 & Dikika localities DIK�1 & DIK�2. Since the efforts of Sabatier
(1979, 1982), no work has been done on micro-mammals from the Hadar Fm.
The earlier studies focused on micro-mammal assemblages from the older (c
3.2 Ma) Sidi Hakoma Mbr. The new micro-mammal fossils from 4 localities
in
the Basal (DIK�2), Sidi Hakoma (DIK�1) & ʺUpper Kada Hadarʺ Members (AL-
894/666) of the Hadar & Busidima Fms, resp., range from c 3.4 to 2.3 Ma.
They expand the known bio-diversity & associated habitat diversity of
these
hominin bearing deposits. Multivariate ordination techniques are used to
explore the community composition & similarity to modern & fossil rodent
communities. The older faunas from DIK�2 & DIK�1 share much in common
with
micro-mammals from Members B and C of the Omo Shungura Fm, while the
younger localities at AL-894/666 are similar to Bed I Olduvai.  Both
older & younger assemblages have bush & woodland adapted spp,
suggesting a rel.mesic
& closed environmental preference for A.afarensis & the tool making
hominins of the ʺUpper Kada Hadarʺ Member.

Denk:

So, this study agrees with me.  Early hominids did not live in
treeless savanna habitat.  And they didn't live in aquatic habitat.
They lived in treed habitat.
Yes, Pliocene E.African apes (Lucy etc.) lived in mesic & closed forests:
Not really.  These were monsoon forests.

??
Monsoon forests where Lucy lived??

Uh huh.

"Marc Verhaegen" <m_verhae... at (no spam) skynet.be> wrote in message

news:C44FD7DA.12074%m_verhaegen at (no spam) skynet.be...



Op 13-05-2008 22:47, in artikel
734aa4e4-68e6-42c3-b838-988613097... at (no spam) f24g2000prh.googlegroups.com,
Claudius
Denk <claudiusd... at (no spam) sbcglobal.net> schreef:

On May 11, 4:57 pm, Marc Verhaegen <m_verhae... at (no spam) skynet.be> wrote:

[ Paleoenvironmental Implications of New Micromammal
Fossils from the Hadar and Busidima Formations, Ethiopia]

Denk:

So, this study agrees with me. Early hominids did not live in
treeless savanna habitat. And they didn't live in aquatic habitat.
They lived in treed habitat.
Yes, Pliocene E.African apes (Lucy etc.) lived in mesic & closed
forests:
Not really. These were monsoon forests.

??
Monsoon forests where Lucy lived??

Uh huh.

Difficulties with speaking? Is this an answer?

Oh!  Here's a good one from the master of
answers:

"Difficulties with speaking? Is this an answer?"
 Marco --05/13/2008

Op 13-05-2008 22:47, in artikel
734aa4e4-68e6-42c3-b838-988613097800 at (no spam) f24g2000prh.googlegroups.com,
Claudius
Denk <claudiusdenk at (no spam) sbcglobal.net> schreef:

On May 11, 4:57 pm, Marc Verhaegen <m_verhae... at (no spam) skynet.be> wrote:

Denk:

So, this study agrees with me. Early hominids did not live in
treeless savanna habitat. And they didn't live in aquatic habitat.
They lived in treed habitat.
Yes, Pliocene E.African apes (Lucy etc.) lived in mesic & closed
forests:
Not really. These were monsoon forests.

??
Monsoon forests where Lucy lived??

Uh huh.

Difficulties with speaking? Is this an answer?