Mammalian Fauna Research Articles

Two New Species of the Genus Heterakis (Heterakidae) from the Genera Echymipera, Isoodon and Perameles (Peramelidae), Bandicoots from Papua New Guinea and Australia.

To identify and describe any new nematode species of the genus Heterakis Dujardin, 1845 (Heterakidae Railliet & Henry, 1914) found in bandicoots (Peramelidae Gray, 1825) collected from Australia and Papua New Guinea and held in the South Australian Museum, Adelaide. All the relevant specimens registered in the South Australian Museum were examined as temporary wet mounts, after clearing in lactophenol, using an Olympus BH-2 microscope with differential interference optics. Measurements were made with an eyepiece micrometer and figures drawn using a drawing tube. Heterakis balamukensis n. sp. was described from Echymipera kabulu (Lesson, 1828) collected from Balamuk station, Bensbach River, Papua New Guinea and Heterakis oweni n. sp. was described from Isoodon macrourus (Gould, 1842) collected from Papua New Guinea, and Queensland, Australia. Heterakis sp. females were identified from I. macrourus from the Northern Territory and Perameles pallescens Thomas, 1923 from Queensland, Australia. A key to the valid species of Heterakis from mammals is given. The heterakid fauna of mammals now comprises eight species: the cosmopolitan species Heterakis spumosa Schneider, 1886 as well as H. balamukensis n. sp., H. fieldingi Smales, 1996, H. oweni n. sp. and H. sirawii Smales, 2016 from Australasia, H. dahomensis (Gendre, 1911) from Africa, and H. inglisi Gupta & Trevadi, 1982 and H. yamagutii Gupta & Trevadi, 1982 from India. Two species have been declared species inquirenda; H. equispicularis Uphadyyay, 2017 and H. verrucosa Molin, 1860, while H. rattui Ghambir, Gyaneswori, Tarnita, Indrani & Zenith, 2008 falls as a junior synonym of H. spumosa. No infections of the cosmopolitan species infecting rodent hosts, Heterakis spumosa Schneider, 1866, were found in bandicoots.

New species of the Spiny Mouse genus Neacomys (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae) from northwestern Ecuador.

Neacomys is a genus of small spiny or bristly sigmodontine rodents that are common components of mammalian faunas in multiple biomes on Central and South America. Recent studies on this group have demonstrated that there is cryptic diversity yet to be discovered within currently recognized species that have not received comprehensive revisions, as well as in areas that have been overlooked. Here we ratify this assertion by describing a new species previously misidentified as the Narrow-footed Spiny Mouse (Neacomystenuipes) from the Chocó biogeographic region in northwestern Ecuador, Neacomysmarci Brito & Tinoco, sp. nov. Distinctiveness of this entity is supported by the combination of the following morphological characters: small size (head-body length 65-85 mm); long tail (69-126% longer than head-body length); pale buff-colored but gray-based belly fur; white throat; hypothenar pad usually absent; long nasals; and a condylar process higher than the coronoid process. Likewise genetic distance analyses and phylogenetic reconstructions based on cytochrome-b (Cytb) sequence data indicate a clear divergence from typical populations of N.tenuipes, and a sister relationship between them. The results presented here increase the diversity of Neacomys to 24 species, placing it among the most diverse genera within the sigmodontine rodents.

Advances in the Understanding of Neogene Mammalian Fauna in the Pampean Region (Central Argentina) Through Revising “Biozone” Hypotheses Based on New Dates and Biochronological Analyses

Advances in the Understanding of Neogene Mammalian Fauna in the Pampean Region (Central Argentina) Through Revising “Biozone” Hypotheses Based on New Dates and Biochronological Analyses

Preliminary description of a late Middle Pleistocene mammalian fauna prior to the extinction of Gigantopithecus blacki from the Yixiantian Cave, Guangxi ZAR, South China.

In recent years, nearly 20 cave sites with rich assemblages of mammalian fossils have been found and excavated in the Chongzuo area, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Their ages are distributed throughout the entire Pleistocene Epoch. These discoveries have greatly facilitated our understanding of the evolution of the Stegodon-Ailuropoda fauna and the environmental context of human evolution in southern China. Here, we present a preliminary report on a diverse late Middle Pleistocene mammalian fauna from the Yixiantian Cave in southern China, which is a typical representative of the Stegodon-Ailuropoda fauna (sensu lato). The fossil mammals are represented by isolated dental remains only. In 2010 and 2011, two seasons of systematic excavations at the Yixiantian Cave yielded a total of 4,958 identifiable mammalian teeth. They were identified as belonging to 37 species and 6 orders of mammals. In addition, the tooth type of all the teeth representing each species was also determined where possible. A single fragmentary molar was identified as belonging to Gigantopithecus blacki, indicating that its population had declined sharply at this time and was on the brink of extinction. Description of the Yixiantian fauna will not only help better characterize the composition of the Stegodon-Ailuropoda fauna during the late Middle Pleistocene, but also clarify our understanding of the paleoenvironmental context at a time just prior to the extinction of G. blacki.

Paleoenvironments represented by the sediments of the Early Pliocene Mursi Formation, Omo Valley, Ethiopia

While our understanding of human origins has been enriched by extensive efforts to reconstruct the ancient environmental context of early hominins using information from hominin-bearing localities, comparatively little effort has been focused on contemporaneous fossil localities with abundant vertebrate fossils, but lacking hominins. We report here on new paleoenvironmental reconstructions of the Mursi Formation, Ethiopia, from which strata dated to >4 Ma preserve an abundant vertebrate fossil record lacking any known hominins, despite being part of a contiguous sedimentary basin known for its rich hominin fossil record. We combine new stratigraphic and sedimentological observations with data from paleosols preserved in the sedimentary sequence, along with isotopic data from pedogenic carbonate, paleosol organic matter, and sulfur minerals preserved in the sediments (gypsum, native sulfur). Paleosol features and carbon isotopic composition of fossil organic matter and pedogenic carbonate complement data from the mammalian fauna, the sum of which provide evidence of closed woodland to forest vegetation. Sedimentological data indicate that these wooded terrestrial habitats occurred near aquatic settings characterized by stagnant shallow waters of a freshwater lake, providing a reconstruction of unique habitats in contrast with hominin localities >4 Ma.

Elevational range extension of the Puna Mouse, Punomys (Cricetidae), with the first record of the genus from Chile.

We report an elevational record for the Andean sigmodontine Puna Mouse Punomys, which is also the first record of the genus in Chile. The record is based on a mummified specimen that we discovered at an elevation of 5,461 m (17,917 feet) in the caldera of Volcán Acamarachi, Región de Antofagasta, Chile. Results of a morphological assessment suggest that the specimen can be provisionally referred to the species P. lemminus. This new record also extends the known geographic distribution of the genus by 700 km to the south and brings the known Chilean mammal richness to a total of 170 living species and 88 genera. This finding highlights the need for increased survey efforts in more remote, high-elevation regions and demonstrates that there is still much to be learned about the mammal fauna of the Andean Altiplano.

Nearctic Pleistocene ungulates from the Pampean region (Argentina) in the historical collections of Santiago Roth in Switzerland: an overview

Nearctic ungulates such as artiodactyls, perissodactyls, and proboscideans arrived in South America during the Great American Biotic Interchange. Among them are camelids, cervids, tayassuids, equids, tapirids and gomphotherids. A historical collection of Nearctic ungulates from Pleistocene deposits of the Pampean region in Argentina is here studied and described. The collection consists of specimens collected by Santiago Roth in the nineteenth century and brought to Europe, where they are housed in the paleontological collections of the University of Zurich and the Natural History Museum of Geneva. Among the taxa reported here are Notiomastodon platensis,Lama guanicoe, Hemiauchenia paradoxa, Tayassu pecari, Morenelaphus sp., Hippidion cf. H. principale, Equus cf. E. neogeus, and other indeterminate gomphotherids, camelids, tayassuids, cervids, and equids. The exact stratigraphic position of these fossils collected more than 130 years ago is in many cases uncertain. The historical collection is still relevant for taxonomic studies and for offering new insights into palaeobiogeography and palaeobiology of mammalian fauna of the region during the Pleistocene.

Diet of the Dingo in Subtropical Australian Forests: Are Small, Threatened Macropods at Risk?

Carnivores fulfil important ecological roles in natural systems yet can also jeopardise the persistence of threatened species. Understanding their diet is, therefore, essential for managing populations of carnivores, as well as those of their prey. This study was designed to better understand the diet of an Australian apex predator, the dingo, and determine whether it poses a threat to at-risk small macropods in two floristically different yet geographically close reserves in subtropical Australia. Based on an analysis of 512 scats, dingo diets comprised 34 different prey taxa, of which 50% were common between reserves. Our findings add support to the paradigm that dingoes are opportunistic and generalist predators that prey primarily on abundant mammalian fauna. Their diets in the Border Ranges were dominated by possum species (frequency of occurrence (FOC) = 92.5%), while their diets in Richmond Range were characterised by a high prevalence of pademelon species (FOC = 46.9%). Medium-sized mammals were the most important dietary items in both reserves and across all seasons. The dietary frequency of medium-sized mammals was generally related to their availability (indexed by camera trapping); however, the avoidance of some species with high availability indicates that prey accessibility may also be important in dictating their dietary choices. Other prey categories were supplementary to diets and varied in importance according to seasonal changes in their availability. The diets included two threatened macropods, the red-legged pademelon and black-striped wallaby. Our availability estimates, together with earlier dietary studies spanning 30 years, suggest that the red-legged pademelon is resilient to the observed predation. The black-striped wallaby occurred in only two dingo scats collected from Richmond Range and was not detected by cameras so the threat to this species could not be determined. Two locally abundant but highly threatened species (the koala and long-nosed potoroo) were not detected in the dingoes' diets, suggesting dingoes do not at present pose a threat to these populations. Our study highlights the importance of site-based assessments, population monitoring and including data on prey availability in dietary investigations.

STRUCTURE OF THE WINTER FAUNA OF MAMMALS IN THE SEAS OF NORTHEASTERN PALEARCTIC OF RUSSIA

The ecological patterns of structure formation and spatial differentiation of the winter fauna of mammals in the seas of the northeastern Palearctic are analyzed. The method of aviation route surveys in a 1 km wide zone was applied. Aerial surveys in the end of 1987-1988 winter period covered the Bering, Chukchi, East Siberian Seas, and the eastern part of the Laptev Sea. The recorded species of mammals (n = 7) are ecologically associated with open sea areas, sea ice, continental and island coasts, and continental tundra. The winter fauna of mammals in the seas of the northeastern Palearctic accounts for 23% of the total mammalian fauna of the region; pinnipeds and cetaceans predominate in terms of the number of species. The similality of the winter fauna of mammals in the Arctic Ocean and the Northern Pacific is 36%. Most of the mammals were observed on the leads in the contact zones between different types of ice or in iceholes among the ice of autumn formation. Polar bears were most often observed near the Wrangel Island, beluga whales - to the east and northeast of the Navarin Cape, walruses - to the south of the Providence Bay. The average density of the winter population of mammals in the surveyed seas of the Northeastern Palearctic is 6.2 individuals/100 km². Walruses, beluga whales, and ringed seals predominate in the population, totaling 94% of the animal numbers.

The mammal fauna of the Mykhailivska Tsilyna Nature Reserve: assessment of diversity and factors of its support

At the time of the creation of the Mykhailivska Tsilyna Nature Reserve (1928), it was a completely forestless steppe area with an area of 202.2 hectares. Presumably, 17 mammal species from 11 families and 5 orders were distributed in its territory, and 1 species (steppe marmot) had already disappeared. Of them, 8 species belonged to the steppe faunal core, 3 species were confined to floodplain meadows, and 6 species were widespread. Fifteen species occurred permanently and two species were recorded with a varying frequency. In the early 1950s, substantial changes took place in and around the nature reserve. A ditch was dug around the perimeter of the reserve and a forest belt was planted. Two much bigger and deeper ponds were created on the site of a small pond. A house and a brick stable were built on the steppe area, and apple trees and an alley of ornamental shrubs were planted. After the reserve was granted republican status in 1947, its environmental protection regime changed, and this had a notable impact on the vegetation. After grazing and mowing were banned, a thick layer of dead plant remains on the ground surface, reaching 5–10 cm in thickness, appeared in most of the reserve’s territory. At that time, an absolute protected regime was established on an area of about 100 hectares. The rest of the area was periodically mowed. In the early 1980s, the ponds were heavily overgrown with aquatic and wetland vegetation, and the banks were overgrown with trees and bushes. Fish were introduced into the ponds. The woody vegetation in the forest belt also grew substantially and became dense. Since 1998, the nature protection regime in the reserve has changed: the ‘periodically mowed steppe’ was mown annually for four years, and there was a break in the fifth year. All this affected the fauna and mammal population of the reserve. In 2009, the area of the reserve was increased to 880 hectares. As a result, a pond (300 x 33 m) appeared in its territory, located near the village of Stepove. A small pond (70 x 12 m) was formed in a ravine in the northern part of the reserve because of the activity of beavers. As of 2023, 24 mammal species from 16 families and 5 orders were recorded here. Of them, 4 species belong to steppe species, 2 to hydrophilic species, 5 to forest species, 12 species are widespread, and there is 1 synanthropic species. Eighteen species occur permanently in the reserve, five species visit the reserve regularly, and one synanthropic species settles in during the warm period of the year.

Early Middle Pleistocene Fauna Of Fossil Rodents And LoessPaleosol Series Of The Pekla Key Section (Taman Peninsula, Russia)

The history of the early Middle Pleistocene small mammal faunas of Eastern Europe is very complicated. The early Middle Pleistocene which spanned from the Brunhes-Matuyama transition (772.9 ka BP, within MIS 19) till the beginning of the Likhvin Interglacial (424 ka BP, MIS 11) includes a number of interglacials and glaciations. Rodent species of the Tiraspolian faunal assemblage were found in the Chaudian fluvial deposits of the Cape Pekla section (northern coast of the Taman Peninsula). The evolutional level of the Pekla rodents are similar to those from the stratotype section of the Tiraspolian faunal assemblage in the Kolkotova Balka in Moldova (MIS 17) , which includes Eolagurus sp., Mimomys savini, Microtus (Terricola) arvalidens, Microtus (Alexandromys) ex gr. oeconomus and other species. The Pekla fauna also resembles the rodent fauna from famous English West Runton Freshwater Bed locality formed during the Cromerian Interglacial II and some other East and West European faunas. In the current work the entire loess-paleosol sequence of the Pekla section was described with five paleosols from the Middle to the Late Pleistocene. The sequence reflects the complexity of climatic fluctuations from the early Middle Pleistocene to the Holocene.

Cosmogenic nuclide chronological constraints on the late Cenozoic strata of the Linxia Basin, northeast Tibetan Plateau

The thick Cenozoic sedimentary sequence of the Linxia Basin contains abundant well-preserved mammalian fossils, which provide significant information on the paleoenvironmental processes and mammalian evolution associated with the uplift and expansion of the Tibetan Plateau. Ambiguous age estimations have been made for some coarse-grained sedimentary units in the basin, which have led to the misinterpretation of biostratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic age models. To resolve these issues, we present radiometric dating of three late Cenozoic sedimentary units (“Liushu”, Hewangjia, and Jishi formations) in the eastern Linxia Basin using cosmogenic 26Al/10Be and 10Be/21Ne burial methods. isotope measurements for the upper “Liushu” Formation indicate a 10Be/21Ne burial age of 11.70 ± 0.17 Ma. This age is older than, but not contrary to, recently revised bio-magnetostratigraphic work. The 26Al/10Be burial age of the Hewangjia Formation is 3.06 (+0.36/−0.31) Ma and had been underestimated by post-burial muon production possibility, while the 26Al/10Be burial age of the Jishi Formation is 2.50 (+0.20/−0.18) Ma and had been overestimated due to inherited cosmogenic nuclides from recycled deposits. The new age from the Jishi Formation delays the initial deposition of conglomerates in the Linxia Basin to no earlier than 2.5 Ma and constrains an important episode of tectonic uplift of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau to 2.5–3.1 Ma. The age of the Equus fauna of Longdan is revised to the Early Quaternary (ca. 2.1–1.9 Ma). Our new age determinations significantly refine the terrestrial sequence chronology of the Linxia Basin and associated mammalian faunas of the late Miocene to the early Pleistocene.

Modern mammal fauna of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast and the Bastak Nature Reserve

Based on the literature and our own information, the most complete list of the modern theriofauna of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast was compiled, including 68 species and subspecies. Sixty species and subspecies are found in the Bastak Nature Reserve; 12 of which are listed in the Red Data Book of the region and two in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation. Four species are new for the fauna of the reserve (Amur hedgehog, spotted deer, domestic dog and cat). Another addition is the synanthropic subspecies of the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus norvegicus). For the fi rst time, lists are given separately for the clusters of the reserve. Negative changes in the theriofauna of the JAO since the 1930s are described – introduction of eight alien species and subspecies and extinction of four native species and subspecies, three of which are included in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation (Amur leopard, dhole, long-tailed goral).

New fossil remains of Rhinocerotidae (Perissodactyla) from the early Late Miocene Tebingan area, central Myanmar

ABSTRACT New fossil remains of Rhinocerotidae, dated from the early Late Miocene, were discovered from the lowermost part of the Irrawaddy Formation in the Tebingan area, Magway Region, central Myanmar. The Tebingan rhinoceros fossils, consisting of isolated teeth, maxillae, and mandibles, are assigned to three taxa: Brachypotherium perimense defined by a constricted protocone, a well-developed parastyle and broad upper teeth, to ‘Brachypotherium’ fatehjangense with a flat ectoloph, crochet, and the absence of tubercle at the entrance of the median valley. Other specimens were assigned to Rhinoceros sp. due to having a developed parastyle, crochet and a strong anterior cingulum and the absence of a constricted protocone and ante-crochet. The evolutionary history of Rhinocerotidae is poorly known in Southeast Asia, and few rhinoceros’ species have been identified from the Irrawaddy Formation. The newly identified Rhinoceros specimens from the early Late Miocene Tebingan area are the oldest fossil records for Rhinoceros in Southeast Asia. The Tebingan mammal fauna is similar to the Nagri and Dhok Pathan faunas of the lower/middle Siwaliks of the Indian subcontinent, indicating the faunal exchange between these two regions in the late Neogene.

Mastofauna assessment as a biodiversity preservation and conservation tool in the implementation of a sanitary landfill

Human presence and changes on environment resulted in habitats reduction through insularization process on which ecosystems areas are fragmented in the middle of human development. On this sense the mammals identification can be an important tool on the environmental impacts evaluation or forecast of more suitable sites for development of human activities. Considering study importance to reduce environmental impacts the aim of this article was to carry out an assessment of mammalian fauna for a landfill implementation in Londrina city (Paraná state) considering the environmental impacts. The evaluation included visualization methods, footprints, traces of different species identified in study. The analysis will identify mitigation measures or indicate the impracticability of landfill activities considering the impacts on local species. On this study were evaluated the surrounding areas of Londrina, identified by the numbers 19, 24 and 28 which could be location alternatives for waste disposal. Presence of species on study area were obtained from field observations and occurrence records in direct and indirect evidence. Through the conservation aspects and lower environmental impacts, Area 28 was presented as the most suitable for development of landfill activities, since the diversity of mammals was rather low compared to areas 19 and 24.

Pliocene volcanic terrain of the South Caucasus as a missing link in Eurasian palaeobiogeography: Dating and palaeoenvironments of vertebrate assemblages of the Jradzor locality, Armenia

Cenozoic faunal exchanges between Europe, Asia, Africa and America played a key role in shaping modern-day Eurasian ecosystems with dispersal pathways controlled by the dynamics of natural palaeogeographic barriers (e.g., deserts, isthmuses, large water bodies, etc.). The South Caucasus is a mountainous region between Asia and Europe, which served as an important dispersal route during the late Cenozoic for the intercontinental exchanges of diverse terrestrial vertebrates. The Pliocene geology of this region is dominated by volcanic and volcaniclastic deposits that are generally not favourable for fossil preservation. However, a few rich fossil vertebrate faunas do occur although they lack comprehensive palaeoenvironmental and age constraints. In this paper, we present an integrated study of the stratigraphy and palaeontology of the Jradzor section located in the Gegham volcanic province of Armenia, to improve knowledge of late Cenozoic dispersal pathways. The 57-m-thick succession comprises 19 fossiliferous horizons with at least 48 identified vertebrate taxa (excluding birds). The palaeoenvironmental reconstruction suggests that the succession was deposited within a short-lived dammed lake that was subject to pyroclastic density flows, and later evolved into soil catenas. Taphonomic observations indicate that pyroclastic flows caused a high mortality of small-size vertebrates in most fossiliferous horizons, while a catastrophic lahar buried the large vertebrate fauna. Multiproxy dating places the studied section between 4.3 and ∼ 3.03 Ma and the mammalian fauna correlates to the MN15. Comparison with similar age localities from across the region shows that Jradzor comprises the most continuous Pliocene succession with the highest number of fossil taxa and fills the MN15 interregional gap. The rich fossil vertebrate faunas have Asian and primarily European affinities. Findings show that the South Caucasus was a significant dispersal route for terrestrial vertebrates between Europe, Asia and Africa, and is of crucial importance for understanding Eurasian palaeogeography.

Identifying Roadkill Hotspots for Mammals in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest using a Functional Group Approach.

A critical step to design wildlife mitigating measures is the identification of roadkill hotspots. However, the effectiveness of mitigations based on roadkill hotspots depends on whether spatial aggregations are recurrent over time, spatially restricted, and most importantly, shared by species with diverse ecological and functional characteristics. We used a functional group approach to map roadkill hotspots for mammalian species along the BR-101/North RJ, a major road crossing important remnants of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We tested if functional groups present distinct hotspot patterns, and if they converge into the same road sectors, in that case, favoring optimal mitigating actions. Roadkill rates were monitored and recorded between October/2014 and September/2018 and species were classified into six functional groups based on their home range, body size, locomotion mode, diet, and forest-dependency. Hotspots along the roads were mapped for comparison of spatial patterns between functional groups. Results demonstrated that the roadkill index varied idiosyncratically for each functional group throughout the months and that no group presented seasonality. Seven hotspots were shared by two or more functional groups, highlighting the importance of these road stretches to regional mammal fauna. Two of the stretches are associated with aquatic areas extending from one side of the road to the other, and the remaining are connected to patches of native vegetation on both sides. This work brings a promising approach, yet hardly used in ecological studies on roads to analyze roadkill dynamics, assigning more importance to ecological instead of taxonomical characteristics, normally used to identify spatiotemporal patterns.

New data on the faunal history of small herbivorous mammals in the Northern Urals during the Lateglacial and Holocene

The fauna of small mammals from two cave localities (Figurny and Ilych grottos) in the western slope of the Northern Urals (Komi Republic, Russia) was studied. The study of taxonomic composition and dental morphology of small mammals from the Figurny grotto revealed Late Glacial and Early Holocene assemblages. Late Glacial assemblages include tundra and tundra-steppe species (76–82 %), forest (15 %) and intrazonal (3–8 %) forms. Species composition indicates open spaces occupied by forest-tundra or forest-steppe vegetation with a relatively low snow cover in winter and also a cold, dry climate in the Late Glacial period. By the Early Holocene, due to the transformation of climate and composition of vegetation, in the communities of small herbivorous mammals, there was a change in the dominant species from tundra-steppe to forest (71 %). The share of tundra and tundra-steppe species was still relatively significant (up to 25 %).

Preliminary Annotated Checklist of Mammalian Fauna of Kishtwar Himalayas, Jammu and Kashmir, India

A region-specific diversity documentation is an important resource for biodiversity conservation. A preliminary survey was carried out in Kishtwar district of Jammu Division to prepare a checklist of domesticated and wild mammalian fauna of the area. The data was collected from 60 villages of this district, lying in North- western Himalayas, ranging from an altitude of 980- 3700 meters above sea level, from May 2022 to December 2022. The survey revealed the presence of 33 species of mammals belonging to 5 orders, 12 families and 13 sub-families. Carnivora was the dominant order with 15 species followed by Artiodactyla with 10 species, Rodentia with 3 species and Perissodactyla and Primates with 3 and 2 species respectively.

Mammalian Fauna of Dharamshala and its Suburbs of District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India

Mammalian Fauna of Dharamshala and its Suburbs of District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India