Journal article
Giant dwarf crocodiles from the Miocene of Kenya and crocodylid faunal dynamics in the late Cenozoic of East Africa
The anatomical record : advances in integrative anatomy and evolutionary biology, Vol.305(10), pp.2729-2765
06/08/2022
DOI: 10.1002/ar.25005
PMCID: PMC9541231
PMID: 35674271
Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access
Abstract
We describe two new osteolaemine crocodylids from the Early and early Middle Miocene of Kenya: Kinyang mabokoensis tax. nov. (Maboko, 15 Ma) and Kinyang tchernovi tax. nov. (Karungu and Loperot, 18 Ma). Additional material referable to Kinyang is known from Chianda and Moruorot. The skull was broad and dorsoventrally deep, and the genus can be diagnosed based on the combined presence of a partial overbite, a subdivided fossa for the lateral collateral ligament on the surangular, and a maxilla with no more than 13 alveoli. Phylogenetic analyses based on morphological and combined morphological and molecular data support a referral of Kinyang to Osteolaeminae, and morphological data alone put the new taxon at the base of Euthecodontini. Some Kinyang maxillae preserve blind pits on the medial caviconchal recess wall. Kinyang co-occurs with the osteolaemine Brochuchus at some localities, and together, they reinforce the phylogenetic disparity between early Neogene osteolaemine-dominated faunas and faunas dominated by crocodylines beginning in the Late Miocene in the Kenya Rift. The causes of this turnover remain unclear, though changes in prevailing vegetation resulting from tectonic and climatic drivers may provide a partial explanation.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Giant dwarf crocodiles from the Miocene of Kenya and crocodylid faunal dynamics in the late Cenozoic of East Africa
- Creators
- Christopher A Brochu - University of IowaAne de Celis - Grupo de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid, SpainAmanda J Adams - Fort Hays State UniversityStephanie K Drumheller - University of Tennessee at KnoxvilleJennifer H Nestler - University of IowaBrenda R Benefit - New Mexico State UniversityAryeh Grossman - Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, USAFrancis Kirera - Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia, USAThomas Lehmann - Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, GermanyCynthia Liutkus-Pierce - Appalachian State UniversityFredrick K Manthi - National Museums of KenyaMonte L McCrossin - New Mexico State UniversityKieran P McNulty - University of MinnesotaRose Nyaboke Juma - National Museums of Kenya
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The anatomical record : advances in integrative anatomy and evolutionary biology, Vol.305(10), pp.2729-2765
- Publisher
- Wiley
- DOI
- 10.1002/ar.25005
- PMID
- 35674271
- PMCID
- PMC9541231
- ISSN
- 1932-8486
- eISSN
- 1932-8494
- Grant note
- BCS 9200951 / National Science Foundation University of Iowa Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Iowa Graduate and Professional Student Government FPU 2016/01058 / Ministerio de Universidades de España University of Iowa Graduate Student Senate DEB 0444133 / National Science Foundation Karl und Marie Schack-Stiftung Fund Fulbright Collaborative Research Program Vereinigung von Freunden und Förderern der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt International Union for the Conservation of Nature Crocodile Specialist Group Leakey Foundation BCS 124812 / National Science Foundation DEB 1257786 / National Science Foundation National Geographic Society BCS 1231749 / National Science Foundation BCS 1241807 / National Science Foundation Boise Fund, Oxford University BCS 1231676 / National Science Foundation BCS 9505778 / National Science Foundation Wenner-Gren Foundation
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/08/2022
- Academic Unit
- Earth and Environmental Sciences; University College Courses
- Record Identifier
- 9984267578502771
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