An assessment of the Lower Pleistocene micromammalian fauna from Swartkrans members 1–3, Gauteng, South Africa

Abstract

An assessment of the micromammalian fauna from Swartkrans Cave, Gauteng, South Africa reveals the presence of at least 29 species, comprising four insectivores, four bats, three elephant-shrews and 18 rodents. Proodontomys cookei seems to be the only definitely extinct taxon represented. All the other taxa may be modern and require re-analysis using current taxonomic methods. A review of the status of Lower Pleistocene micromammalian taxonomy in South Africa indicates the need for a complete revision. This, in turn, brings with it the opportunity to develop species definitions that apply equally to fossil and extant material. It is argued that such an approach is essential if the fossil data are to aid our understanding of the history of biodiversity and endemism. The present paper begins the exercise by providing a general background for future detailed studies of the individual taxa.