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Skulls of the Hammerschmiede crane and extant Gruidae in dorsal (a-h) and lateral (i-n) view. a, i the fossil Hammerschmiede crane (the silhouette indicates the reconstructed outline). b, j Bugeranus carunculatus (SMF 19585). c, k Grus antigone (SMF 3759). d, l Leucogeranus leucogeranus (SMF 252). e Grus vipio (SMF 11375).f,
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We describe a partial skull of a very large crane from the early late Miocene (Tortonian) hominid locality Hammerschmiede in southern Germany, which is the oldest fossil record of the Gruinae (true cranes). The fossil exhibits an unusual preservation in that only the dorsal portions of the neurocranium and beak are preserved. Even though it is, the...
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... fossil skull shows a highly unusual preservation in that only the dorsal portions of the beak and neurocranium are preserved (Fig. 2j). The specimen was discovered in situ in undisturbed sediment. Therefore, we exclude the possibility that it was damaged in the course of the excavation or due to mining activities in the clay pit. Attached sediment along the breaking edges suggests that the damage occurred before the final deposition of the ...
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... very long and straight bill lacks the tip, but is of similar relative length to that of the extant Bugeranus carunculatus (Fig. 2b) and Leucogeranus leucogeranus (Fig. 2d), which are among the extant cranes with the proportionally longest beaks (Table ...
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... very long and straight bill lacks the tip, but is of similar relative length to that of the extant Bugeranus carunculatus (Fig. 2b) and Leucogeranus leucogeranus (Fig. 2d), which are among the extant cranes with the proportionally longest beaks (Table ...
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... nostrils are very long and exhibit a schizorhinal condition, with a slit-like caudal end that extends beyond the nasofrontal hinge. A notable feature is the broad internarial bar, which is proportionally wider than in all extant cranes and almost twice as wide as that of the similar-sized B. carunculatus (Fig. 2). The fossil shows little compression, so that we do not consider this unusually wide internarial bar to be an artefact of a taphonomic flattening. The entire ventral surface of the internarial bar has a flat, unstructured surface without any traces of an ossified internarial septum. On the dorsal surface, the base of the internarial ...
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... and the Australasian Sarus Crane, Grus antigone, both of which reach a standing height of about 175 cm (Archibald and Meine 1996). With an estimated total skull length of about 265 mm, the fossil reaches the skull length of these two extant species and that of the long-beaked but somewhat smaller Siberian Crane, Leucogeranus leucogeranus ( Fig. 2; Table ...
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... overall shape, the preserved portion of the skull of the fossil resembles the corresponding skull parts of Leucogeranus (Fig. 2d, l), which has a similar skull size and relative beak length. As in Leucogeranus and Bugeranus (Fig. 2b, j), the skull of the Hammerschmiede crane has a low profile in lateral view, whereas in other Gruinae, the cranial vault is more elevated relative to the beak (Fig. 2). The dorsoventrally thick orbital rim of the frontal is present in ...
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... overall shape, the preserved portion of the skull of the fossil resembles the corresponding skull parts of Leucogeranus (Fig. 2d, l), which has a similar skull size and relative beak length. As in Leucogeranus and Bugeranus (Fig. 2b, j), the skull of the Hammerschmiede crane has a low profile in lateral view, whereas in other Gruinae, the cranial vault is more elevated relative to the beak (Fig. 2). The dorsoventrally thick orbital rim of the frontal is present in most extant Gruinae except ...
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... skull of the fossil resembles the corresponding skull parts of Leucogeranus (Fig. 2d, l), which has a similar skull size and relative beak length. As in Leucogeranus and Bugeranus (Fig. 2b, j), the skull of the Hammerschmiede crane has a low profile in lateral view, whereas in other Gruinae, the cranial vault is more elevated relative to the beak (Fig. 2). The dorsoventrally thick orbital rim of the frontal is present in most extant Gruinae except ...
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... fossil skull shows a highly unusual preservation in that only the dorsal portions of the beak and neurocranium are preserved (Fig. 2j). The specimen was discovered in situ in undisturbed sediment. Therefore, we exclude the possibility that it was damaged in the course of the excavation or due to mining activities in the clay pit. Attached sediment along the breaking edges suggests that the damage occurred before the final deposition of the ...
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... very long and straight bill lacks the tip, but is of similar relative length to that of the extant Bugeranus carunculatus (Fig. 2b) and Leucogeranus leucogeranus (Fig. 2d), which are among the extant cranes with the proportionally longest beaks (Table ...
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... very long and straight bill lacks the tip, but is of similar relative length to that of the extant Bugeranus carunculatus (Fig. 2b) and Leucogeranus leucogeranus (Fig. 2d), which are among the extant cranes with the proportionally longest beaks (Table ...
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... nostrils are very long and exhibit a schizorhinal condition, with a slit-like caudal end that extends beyond the nasofrontal hinge. A notable feature is the broad internarial bar, which is proportionally wider than in all extant cranes and almost twice as wide as that of the similar-sized B. carunculatus (Fig. 2). The fossil shows little compression, so that we do not consider this unusually wide internarial bar to be an artefact of a taphonomic flattening. The entire ventral surface of the internarial bar has a flat, unstructured surface without any traces of an ossified internarial septum. On the dorsal surface, the base of the internarial ...
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... and the Australasian Sarus Crane, Grus antigone, both of which reach a standing height of about 175 cm (Archibald and Meine 1996). With an estimated total skull length of about 265 mm, the fossil reaches the skull length of these two extant species and that of the long-beaked but somewhat smaller Siberian Crane, Leucogeranus leucogeranus ( Fig. 2; Table ...
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... overall shape, the preserved portion of the skull of the fossil resembles the corresponding skull parts of Leucogeranus (Fig. 2d, l), which has a similar skull size and relative beak length. As in Leucogeranus and Bugeranus (Fig. 2b, j), the skull of the Hammerschmiede crane has a low profile in lateral view, whereas in other Gruinae, the cranial vault is more elevated relative to the beak (Fig. 2). The dorsoventrally thick orbital rim of the frontal is present in ...
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... overall shape, the preserved portion of the skull of the fossil resembles the corresponding skull parts of Leucogeranus (Fig. 2d, l), which has a similar skull size and relative beak length. As in Leucogeranus and Bugeranus (Fig. 2b, j), the skull of the Hammerschmiede crane has a low profile in lateral view, whereas in other Gruinae, the cranial vault is more elevated relative to the beak (Fig. 2). The dorsoventrally thick orbital rim of the frontal is present in most extant Gruinae except ...
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... skull of the fossil resembles the corresponding skull parts of Leucogeranus (Fig. 2d, l), which has a similar skull size and relative beak length. As in Leucogeranus and Bugeranus (Fig. 2b, j), the skull of the Hammerschmiede crane has a low profile in lateral view, whereas in other Gruinae, the cranial vault is more elevated relative to the beak (Fig. 2). The dorsoventrally thick orbital rim of the frontal is present in most extant Gruinae except ...
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... fossil skull shows a highly unusual preservation in that only the dorsal portions of the beak and neurocranium are preserved (Fig. 2j). The specimen was discovered in situ in undisturbed sediment. Therefore, we exclude the possibility that it was damaged in the course of the excavation or due to mining activities in the clay pit. Attached sediment along the breaking edges suggests that the damage occurred before the final deposition of the ...
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... very long and straight bill lacks the tip, but is of similar relative length to that of the extant Bugeranus carunculatus (Fig. 2b) and Leucogeranus leucogeranus (Fig. 2d), which are among the extant cranes with the proportionally longest beaks (Table ...
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... very long and straight bill lacks the tip, but is of similar relative length to that of the extant Bugeranus carunculatus (Fig. 2b) and Leucogeranus leucogeranus (Fig. 2d), which are among the extant cranes with the proportionally longest beaks (Table ...
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... nostrils are very long and exhibit a schizorhinal condition, with a slit-like caudal end that extends beyond the nasofrontal hinge. A notable feature is the broad internarial bar, which is proportionally wider than in all extant cranes and almost twice as wide as that of the similar-sized B. carunculatus (Fig. 2). The fossil shows little compression, so that we do not consider this unusually wide internarial bar to be an artefact of a taphonomic flattening. The entire ventral surface of the internarial bar has a flat, unstructured surface without any traces of an ossified internarial septum. On the dorsal surface, the base of the internarial ...
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... and the Australasian Sarus Crane, Grus antigone, both of which reach a standing height of about 175 cm (Archibald and Meine 1996). With an estimated total skull length of about 265 mm, the fossil reaches the skull length of these two extant species and that of the long-beaked but somewhat smaller Siberian Crane, Leucogeranus leucogeranus ( Fig. 2; Table ...
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... overall shape, the preserved portion of the skull of the fossil resembles the corresponding skull parts of Leucogeranus (Fig. 2d, l), which has a similar skull size and relative beak length. As in Leucogeranus and Bugeranus (Fig. 2b, j), the skull of the Hammerschmiede crane has a low profile in lateral view, whereas in other Gruinae, the cranial vault is more elevated relative to the beak (Fig. 2). The dorsoventrally thick orbital rim of the frontal is present in ...
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... overall shape, the preserved portion of the skull of the fossil resembles the corresponding skull parts of Leucogeranus (Fig. 2d, l), which has a similar skull size and relative beak length. As in Leucogeranus and Bugeranus (Fig. 2b, j), the skull of the Hammerschmiede crane has a low profile in lateral view, whereas in other Gruinae, the cranial vault is more elevated relative to the beak (Fig. 2). The dorsoventrally thick orbital rim of the frontal is present in most extant Gruinae except ...
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... skull of the fossil resembles the corresponding skull parts of Leucogeranus (Fig. 2d, l), which has a similar skull size and relative beak length. As in Leucogeranus and Bugeranus (Fig. 2b, j), the skull of the Hammerschmiede crane has a low profile in lateral view, whereas in other Gruinae, the cranial vault is more elevated relative to the beak (Fig. 2). The dorsoventrally thick orbital rim of the frontal is present in most extant Gruinae except ...
Citations
... From this level alone, 112 vertebrate species are known (147 from all levels together), including 73 species of mammals (84 mammals in total from the outcrop). So far, only a fraction of the enormous vertebrate fauna has been studied in detail, including carnivores [7][8][9][10], artiodactyles [11][12][13], beavers [14], small mammals [15][16][17][18][19][20] and birds [21][22][23]. ...
The known diversity of European middle and late Miocene hominids has increased significantly during the last decades. Most of these great apes were frugivores in the broadest sense, ranging from soft fruit frugivores most like chimpanzees to hard/tough object feeders like orangutans, varying in size from larger than siamangs (over 17 kg) to larger than most chimpanzees (~60–70 kg). In contrast to the frequent sympatry of hominoids in the early-to-middle Miocene of Africa, in no European Miocene locality more than one hominid taxon has been identified. Here we describe the first case of hominid sympatry in Europe from the 11.62 Ma old Hammerschmiede HAM 5 level, best known from its excellent record of Danuvius guggenmosi. The new fossils are consistent in size with larger pliopithecoids but differ morphologically from any pliopithecoid and from Danuvius. They are also distinguished from early and middle Miocene apes, share affinities with late Miocene apes, and represent a small hitherto unknown late Miocene ape Buronius manfredschmidi. With an estimated body mass of about 10 kg it represents the smallest known hominid taxon. The relative enamel thickness of Buronius is thin and contrasts with Danuvius, whose enamel is twice as thick. The differences between Buronius and Danuvius in tooth and patellar morphology, enamel thickness and body mass are indicative of differing adaptations in each, permitting resource partitioning, in which Buronius was a more folivorous climber.
... ationally renowned after the description of the new hominid species Danuvius guggenmosi Böhme et al. 2019 and its potential bipedalism Williams et al. 2020). In recent years, the fauna has been further investigated, with the detailed descriptions of some ruminants, carnivores, proboscideans, beavers, and birds (Fuss et al. 2015;Hartung et al. 2020;G. Mayr et al. 2020b;G. Mayr et al. 2020a;Kargopoulos, Valenciano, et al. 2021;Kargopoulos, Kampouridis, et al. 2021a;Kargopoulos, Kampouridis, et al. 2021b;Hartung and Böhme 2022;Kargopoulos et al. 2022;Lechner and Böhme 2022;Konidaris et al. 2023;Lechner and Böhme 2023;G. Mayr et al. 2023). The most common macrovertebrate representatives are turtles and so ...
Chalicotheres are enigmatic perissodactyls that had large claws instead of hooves. The present study concerns the material of Chalicotheriidae from the Late Miocene hominid locality of Hammerschmiede in Germany. The HAM 5 fossil site (11.62 Ma) consists of six isolated dental and postcranial chalicothere elements. Based on the morphology and dimensions of the dentition, the material can be assigned to the chalicotheriine Anisodon sp. This genus is the most common representative of Chalicotheriidae in Central Europe during the Middle Miocene but becomes much rarer during the Late Miocene. The HAM 4 fossil site (11.44 Ma) has yielded a patella belonging to a schizotheriine and a skull fragment that could possibly also belong to a schizotheriine. Thus, the schizotheriine and the chalicotheriine occur in different horizons in Hammerschmiede. Both taxa probably had a rather similar diet but different locomotion, and their disparate occurrences are most plausibly associated with environmental differences among the two fossiliferous levels.
... Several previously published records rest on weak evidence and they are considered to be of uncertain phylogenetic affinities (Cracraft, 1973a;Göhlich, 2003), which makes comparisons of Patagogrus with other fossil gruines difficult. The only Tertiary extinct gruine genera that rest on relatively robust evidence are Palaeogrus and Camusia (e.g., Göhlich, 2003;Mayr et al., 2020b;Mourer-Chauviré, 2001;Seguí, 2002;Zelenkov, 2015). Comparisons between Patagogrus, Palaeogrus and the extant genus Grus were made in the diagnosis of Patagogrus following characteristics noted by previous authors (Cracraft, 1973a;Göhlich, 2003;Northcote and Mourer-Chauviré, 1988). ...
The present contribution aims to describe new fossil bird remains coming from early-middle Miocene beds (Pinturas and Santa Cruz Formations) in Santa Cruz province, Patagonia, Argentina. These include a new tinamid, a basal anseriform, one anhimid, two new tadornine ducks, possible gruid, psophiid, and parvigruid cranes, an uncertain falconid, a new species of the falconid genus Thegornis, a possible sophiornithid, a coraciid, and remains of innominate rallids, phoenicopterids and passeriforms of the clade Tyranni. If correctly identified, the gruid represents the oldest record for the clade in South America and one of the few findings of the group in the entire continent. The sophiornithid and parvigruid may constitute the first record for each clade in South America. The psophiid may constitute the first fossil record for the clade worldwide. The coraciid represents the first record for the family in South America and both the youngest and second record for coraciiforms in the continent. This, together with the gruid, constitute members of bird clades that were geographically widespread by Paleogene and early Neogene times, but now are restricted as relicts to the Old Word and North America. Their extinction from the Neotropical Region is still uncertain. The presence of at least three different members of Tyranni, reinforces previous thoughts sustaining a long and complex history of the subclade, and passeriforms as a whole, in South America. Birds, early Miocene, Santa Cruz province, Patagonia, Argentina.
La finalidad de la presente contribución es la de describir nuevos restos de aves fósiles procedentes de capas del Mioceno temprano-medio (Formaciones Punturas y Santa Cruz) en la provincia de Santa Cruz, Argentina. Estos incluyen un nuevo tinámido, un anhímido, dos nuevos patos tadorninos, posibles gruídos, psófidos y parvigruidos, un falcónido incierto, una nueva especie de falcónido del género Thegornis, un posible sofiornítido, un corácido, y restos de rállidos, foenicoptéridos y paseriformes del clado Tyranni innominados. Si la identificación es correcta el gruido representa el registro más antiguo para América del Sur y uno de los escasos hallazgos para el grupo en el continente entero. Por otro lado, el sofiornítido y el parvigruido constituirían los primeros registros para cada clado en Sudamérica. El psófido podría constituir el primer registro fósil certero para el clado a nivel mundial. El corácido constituye el primer registro para la familia en América del Sur y el más joven y segundo registro para los Coraciiformes en el continente. Este, junto al gruido, constituyen miembros de clados de aves que estaban ampliamente distribuidos durante el Paleógeno y Neógeno, pero que hoy en día se restringen a modo de relicto en el Viejo Mundo y en Norteamérica. Su extinción de la región Neotropical es aún incierta. La presencia de al menos tres miembros diferentes de Tyranni, refuerza las hipótesis previas que sostienen una larga y compleja historia no solo para el subclado, sino para los Passeriformes en general en América del Sur. Aves, Miocene temprano, provincia de Santa Cruz, Patagonia, Argentina.
... Most spectacular was the discovery of associated skeletons of the partially bipedal hominid Danuvius guggenmosi (Böhme et al. 2019 in HAM 5. So far, only a fraction of the enormous vertebrate fauna has been studied in detail, including carnivorans (Kargopoulos et al. 2021a(Kargopoulos et al. , b, c, 2022, ruminants (Fuss et al. 2015;Hartung et al. 2020;Hartung and Böhme 2022), beavers Böhme 2022, 2023), small mammals (Mayr and Fahlbusch 1975;Prieto and Rummel 2009;Prieto et al. 2011;Prieto 2012;Prieto and Dam 2012) and birds (Mayr et al. 2020a(Mayr et al. , b, 2022. ...
During the Miocene, proboscideans reached their greatest diversification, and due to their marked evolutionary changes in dental size and morphology, they comprise an important biostratigraphic/biochronological tool. In this article, we study the proboscideans from the Late Miocene hominid locality Hammerschmiede (Germany), whose fossiliferous layers HAM 6, HAM 4 and HAM 5 are dated to 11.42, 11.44 and 11.62 Ma, respectively. The studied material consists of mandibular, tusk and cheek tooth specimens, which are attributed to the deinothere Deinotherium levius and the tetralophodont gomphothere Tetralophodon longirostris. An almost complete juvenile mandible of D. levius was CT-scanned and revealed that the erupting lower tusks represent the permanent ones. The mandible is most possibly associated with a lower deciduous tusk, and therefore these specimens capture the rare, and short in duration, moment of transition between deciduous and permanent lower tusks in fossil proboscideans and represent the first such example in deinotheres. The chronologically well-constrained proboscidean fauna from Hammerschmiede and the examination of other assemblages from European localities indicate that the coexistence of D. levius and T. longirostris characterizes the late Astaracian–earliest Vallesian, while Hammerschmiede may showcase the transition from the Middle Miocene trilophodont (Gomphotherium)-dominated faunas of central Europe to the Late Miocene tetralophodont-dominated ones. Finally, in order to decipher the dietary preferences of the Hammerschmiede Tetralophodon we performed dental mesowear angle analysis, which revealed a mixed-feeding diet with an important browsing component, significantly different from the heavily browsing one of Deinotherium known from other localities. Such distinct feeding habits between the taxa indicate niche partitioning, which allowed their sympatry.
... It is possible that the phylogenetic tree of cranes will change when analyzing the mitochondrial genomes of a larger number of individuals of each species, as well as when sequencing complete nuclear genomes (Krajewski, 2019). Changes are all the more likely because this molecular phylogeny is not entirely consistent with phylogeny based on sternum morphology, which supports early divergence of the Siberian crane, however, indicates the proximity of the clade Bugeranus + Anthropoides, which is inconsistent with mitochondrial genome clustering (Mayr et al., 2020). Thus, complex taxonomic studies of the cranes, including both morphological and modern genome-wide data, have not yet been completed. ...
The aim of this paper is to review research areas and results of the study of crane population gene pools using molecular genetic techniques. Data on the taxonomy and phylogeny of the Gruidae family, the intraspecific genetic structure, population genetic diversity and differentiation of crane species from the most numerous to critically endangered are presented. The effectiveness of the use of DNA markers for the analysis of interspecific hybridization, adaptive variability, sex determination, and monitoring of breeding and reintroduction of rare species is shown. Genetically based recommendations and strategies for the conservation of crane population gene pools in nature and captivity are discussed.
... Apart from this exceptional finding, other groups of the vertebrate fauna of the Hammerschmiede have been published, including the antelope Miotragocerus monacensis Stromer von Reichenbach, 1928(Fuss et al. 2015Hartung et al. 2020), the mouse deer Dorcatherium naui Kaup, 1833 (Hartung and, birds including a large crane, the darter Anhinga pannonica Lam brecht, 1916, and anseriforms represented by the small cf. Mioquerquedula sp. and the new anatid Allgoviachen tortonica Mayr, Lechner, and Böhme, 2022(Mayr et al. 2020a, b, 2022, carnivores (Kargopoulos et al. 2021a(Kargopoulos et al. -c, 2022 and small mammals including soricids, erinaceids, eomyids and cricetids (Prieto and Rummel 2009;Prieto et al. 2011;Prieto 2012;Prieto and Dam 2012). Turtles, artiodactyles, carnivores, fishes, and rodents are the most common vertebrates in the Hammerschmiede fauna, indicating a diverse ecosystem consisting of arboreal, terrestrial, semiaquatic and aquatic habitats. ...
... Within this section there are two main fossiliferous layers, HAM 5 and HAM 4 with an approximate depositional age of 11.62 and 11.44 Ma, respectively (Kirscher et al. 2016). The younger HAM 4 horizon can be interpreted as a river channel of about 50 m width and 4-5 m depth (Mayr et al. 2020a) whereas the slightly older HAM 5 most likely represents a small rivulet of only four to five metres width (Mayr et al. 2020a). According to the classic stream order (Hack's stream order following Hack 1957) it is assumed, that HAM 4 represents a deeper 2 nd order stream and HAM 5 a shallower 3 rd order stream. ...
... Within this section there are two main fossiliferous layers, HAM 5 and HAM 4 with an approximate depositional age of 11.62 and 11.44 Ma, respectively (Kirscher et al. 2016). The younger HAM 4 horizon can be interpreted as a river channel of about 50 m width and 4-5 m depth (Mayr et al. 2020a) whereas the slightly older HAM 5 most likely represents a small rivulet of only four to five metres width (Mayr et al. 2020a). According to the classic stream order (Hack's stream order following Hack 1957) it is assumed, that HAM 4 represents a deeper 2 nd order stream and HAM 5 a shallower 3 rd order stream. ...
Dental remains of a medium sized beaver from the early Late Miocene Hammerschmiede locality (MN 7/8) in the
Northern Alpine Foreland Basin (Southern Germany, Bavaria) are described and assigned to Steneofiber depereti. The
numerous material (160 teeth) was collected in the two fossiliferous layers HAM 5 and HAM 4 and comprises beaver
individuals of a large range of age classes, from juvenile to old. The dental remains metrically and morphologically
overlap the stratigraphic older Steneofiber spp. and the younger Chalicomys spp. This supports the hypothesis of the
European anagenetic evolutionary lineage Steneofiber depereti–Chalicomys jaegeri. The morphological characters to
differentiate Steneofiber depereti and Chalicomys jaegeri are discussed and redefined. The performed age-frequency
distribution (Mortality profile) indicates a natural ecological mortality and confirms that at least the fluvial channel of the
HAM 4 deposits was the actual optimal beaver habitat and continuously populated by larger family groups of beavers.
Furthermore, there are indications that the Hammerschmiede beaver had a similar parental investment as today’s beavers,
where young adults migrate to poorer habitats in the second year, in search of their own territory. The shallower channel
of HAM 5 possibly represents such a “second choice” habitat.
... This is the time right after the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum, a significant climatic event that affected the fauna of Europe (Böhme 2003). However, the record of vertebrate fossil localities in the ʻObe re Serie' of the NAFB is rather scanty (Böhme & Ilg 2003); nonetheless, the closely situated site of Hammerschmiede exhibits a highly diverse community, including all major vertebrate groups, as well as hominids (Kirscher et al. 2016;Böhme et al. 2019;Hartung et al. 2020;Mayr et al. 2020a;Mayr et al. 2020b;Kargopoulos et al. 2021a, Kargopoulos et al. 2021bKargopoulos et al. 2021c). ...
Herein the fossil assemblage of the Middle Miocene (12.06 Ma) locality of Markt Retten-bach (Southern Germany) is studied. The fossil-bearing sediments of the clay pit have been known for almost a century, but until now only little is known about its fauna. A small sample of fossils collected in the 1940s is housed in the collections of the Kempten-Museum in the Zumsteinhaus (Germany). Since then, the clay pit has been re-naturalised and is not available for any further excavations and collecting of fossils. Thereby, this material, along with a single mandible of a Listriodon splendens described in the past, are the only information about the Middle Miocene fauna of this locality. Herein , five large mammals were identified: a proboscidean, a hornless rhino, a large-sized suid, a small ruminant (possibly a tragulid), and a medium-sized pecoran (possibly a small bovid). Thus, this work represents the first detailed study of the known mammalian fauna of Markt Rettenbach overall. Its fauna is comparable to other Middle Miocene sites such as Gratkorn (Austria) and matches the late Middle Miocene age previously suggested for the locality.
... Apart from its large size and other osteological characters related to flightlessness, the Cuban species is most similar to Antigone antigone (Linnaeus, 1758) and A. canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) in features of the skull, rather than to Grus americana (Linnaeus, 1758). Recently, Mayr et al. (2020) of large size (Wetmore 1937: 435 Suárez & Díaz-Franco (2003: 373). ...
... At least six distinct fossiliferous levels have been identified, but the majority of fossils has been unearthed from the fluvial channels HAM 4 and HAM 5, dated to 11.44 and 11.62 Ma, respectively (Kirscher et al., 2016). Several studies have been published concerning the fauna (both vertebrate and invertebrate) of the locality Mayr and Fahlbusch, 1975;Schneider and Prieto, 2011;Fuss et al., 2015;Böhme et al., 2019, Mayr et al., 2020a, 2020bHartung et al., 2020;Kargopoulos et al., in press). They reveal an extremely high faunal diversity, comprising more than 130 terrestrial and aquatic vertebrate species, several being new to science. ...
This study presents a new species of a large-sized lutrine from the upper Miocene hominid locality of Hammerschmiede, Vishnuonyx neptuni sp. nov., reporting the first occurrence of the genus in Europe and its most northern and western record. The new species differs from the already known members of the genus in size (intermediate between the African Vishnuonyx? angololensis and the Asiatic Vishnuonyx chinjiensis) and morphology, in particular in the larger P4 hypocone, the primitive morphology of M1 (paraconule present, enlarged protoconule and metaconule, labial expansion at the paracone area), the shorter and more robust lower premolars and the wider m1 trigonid. We hypothesized that the dispersal event that led to the expansion of the genus in Europe seems to be correlated with the water connection between Paratethys and the Mesopotamian Basin during the Konkian, between 13.4 and 12.65 Ma. In terms of paleoecology, it is here suggested that this form was feeding mainly on fish and less on bivalves or plant material, resembling the extant giant otter, Pteronura brasiliensis.
... The discovery of a new hominid, Danuvius guggenmosi, with an advanced positional behaviour (Böhme et al. 2019) led to the discussion of the involvement of bipedalism in its locomotion Williams et al., 2020). Beside the mammalian remains, Mayr et al. (2020a), Mayr et al. (2020b) described two avian taxa (Anhinga pannonica and Gruinae indet.). The present study is the first publication solely concerning the carnivorans from Hammerschmiede. ...
The present article offers a detailed review of the taxonomy, distribution and palaeoecology of the genus Semigenetta. The study is based on new craniodental and postcranial remains of the genus from the early late Miocene (Tortonian) locality of Hammerschmiede (Bavaria, Germany). Most of the new specimens are attributed to the medium-sized species Semigenetta sansaniensis, whereas one lower carnassial is assigned to the large-sized Semigenetta grandis, making Hammerschmiede 4 the first known locality with two species of the genus. The variability of the material of S. sansaniensis from Europe allows us to revise the taxonomic weight of some previously used characters, and to identify the smaller-sized late Miocene form Semigenetta ripolli as a junior synonym of the former. Such an evolutionary transition of S. sansaniensis towards smaller forms is explained by niche partitioning with larger carnivorans of similar ecology, such as the herein reported S. grandis. Additionally, the species Semigenetta huaiheensis is here considered as a junior synonym of Semigenetta elegans.
