PaleoBios abstracts, nos. 1-16

Research : PaleoBios

Abstracts (numbers 1–16)

PaleoBios 1, June 15, 1967
© 1967 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Oreodonts of the Tick Canyon Formation, Southern California

DAVID P. WHISTLER

NO ABSTRACT

PaleoBios 2, July 15, 1967
© 1967 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Pre-burial abrasion of articulated asteroid skeletons

D. BRYAN BLAKE

Although asteroids usually become disarticulated rapidly after death, Recent forms collected on the beach of Baja California show noteworthy transport abrasion but little tendency for disarticulation. A relatively complete fossil starfish therefore cannot be, by itself, considered proof of rapid deposition of the containing sediment; in evaluating ossicle morphology of such specimens, the possibility of pre-depositional abrasion should be considered.

PaleoBios 3, July 15, 1967
© 1967 University of California Museum of Paleontology

A Pleistocene vampire bat (Desmodus stocki) from Potter Creek Cave, Shasta County, California

J. HOWARD HUTCHISON
University of California Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

NO ABSTRACT

PaleoBios 4, February 1, 1968
© 1968 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Megabelodon minor (Mammalia: Proboscidea), a new species of mastodont from the Esmeralda Formation of Nevada

J.E. MAWBY
University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

A single fossil mandible from the Esmeralda Formation (Late Miocene-Early Pliocene) of Nevada represents a new species of gomphotheriid proboscidean, allied with the "spoon-billed" mastodonts of the Tertiary of the Great Plains. Mandibles with long symphysis but no lower tusks were developed in at least three independent lines of Tertiary gomphotheres, represented by the genera Megabeladon, Gnathabelodon, and Eubeladon.

PaleoBios 5, June 1, 1968
© 1968 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Brackish water ostracods from La Jolla Submarine Canyon 7200–500 years before present

JOHN C. HOLDEN

NO ABSTRACT

PaleoBios 6, October 15, 1968
© 1968 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Rodents from the Hartman Ranch Local Fauna, California

EVERETT LINDSAY

Fossil rodents, represented by approximately 140 isolated teeth, were collected from the lower part of the Sespe Formation near Sespe Gorge, Ventura County, California. Age of the fauna is Uintan. The Hartman Ranch small mammal fauna includes Pareumys sp., Namatomys fantasma n. sp., Griphonys sp., and Simimys sp.
Namatomys fantasma shares morphological features with Simimys, suggesting these forms are phyletically related. N. fantasma has cheek tooth formula (4/4) identifying it as an eomyid while Simimys has cheek tooth formula (3/3) identifying it as a cricetid. Teeth of N. fantasma also resemble those of some sciuravids and zapodids, suggesting N. fantasma is intermediate in a lineage Sciuravidae > Eomyidae > Cricetidae and Zapodidae.
Pareumys and Griphomys are presently represented by only a few specimens.

PaleoBios 7, December 30, 1968
© 1968 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Megahippus and Hyohippus (Mammalia: Perissodactyla) from the Esmeralda Formation of Nevada

J.E. MAWBY

A specimen from the Esmeralda Formation (Mio-Pliocene) of Nevada provides new information concerning the poorly known anchitheriine horse, Megahippus McGrew. Hypohippus nevadensis Merriam, from the same formation, approaches Megahippus in size, but lacks the characteristic megahippine specialization of the dentition.

PaleoBios 8, June 1, 1969
© 1969 University of California Museum of Paleontology

A molluscan faunal assemblage from the Arcturus Formation, Nevada

THOMAS E. YANCEY

NO ABSTRACT

PaleoBios 9, December 1, 1969
© 1969 University of California Museum of Paleontology

An investigation of the diatoms from four Tertiary lake bed deposits in western Nevada

GUNILLA SMEDMAN

NO ABSTRACT

PaleoBios 10, April 15, 1970
© 1970 University of California Museum of Paleontology

A re-evaluation of mandibles of Allodesmus (Carnivora: Otariidae) from the Round Mountain Silt, Kern County, California.

LAWRENCE G. BARNES

A series of Allodesmus mandibles from the late middle Miocene Sharktooth Hill bonebed in the Round Mountain Silt of Kern County, California forms the basis for a study of the variation in a sample including the holotype of A. kelloggi Mitchell (1966). The range of variation in the sample encompasses the features of the holotype of A. kernensis Kellogg (1922), and A. kelloggi is therefore considered a junior synonym of A. kernensis. The mandibles show variation in the position of teeth and the development of other structures. The magnitude of variation is comparable to that in a series of mandibles of the living species Zalophus californianus Lesson.

PaleoBios 11, January 30, 1971
© 1971 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Imagotaria (Mammalia: Otariidae) from the Late Miocene Santa Margarita Formation near Santa Cruz, California

LAWRENCE G. BARNES

Fossil jaws and skull fragments of one individual referable to the extinct otariid genus Imagotaria have been recovered from the Santa Margarita Formation near Olympia in Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz County, California. The specimen supplies additional information on the anatomy of Imagotaria and extends the known geographic range of the genus 200 miles northward from the type locality of I. downsi in Santa Barbara County. Because of the differences in dentition, the new fossils cannot be referred confidently to I. downsi and may represent a more primitive form identified herein only as Imagotaria sp.

PaleoBios 12, March 30, 1971
© 1971 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Uintatherium (Mammalia: Dinocerata) from the Uintan (Middle to Late Eocene) of Southern California

J. HOWARD HUTCHISON
University of California Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

NO ABSTRACT

PaleoBios 13, September 30, 1971
© 1971 University of California Museum of Paleontology

A Pliocene colubrid snake (Reptilia: Colubridae) from west-central Nevada

JOHN RUBEN

An articulated, but incomplete, fossilized snake, from the middle member (approximately Middle Pliocene) of the Truckee Formation of west-central Nevada is Coluber sp. Linnaeus, 1758 (Reptilia: Colubridae). The specimen's original overall body length, about 830 mm, indicates that the serpent was about two years old and sexually mature at the time of its death. Presence of three fossilized fishes (at least one of which is Gasterosteus doryssus Jordan, 1907) within the rib cage of the specimen gives evidence that: (1) just prior to its death, the serpent maintained a summer home range that bordered on, or surrounded, a lake or stream; (2) the serpent was feeding on small fish shortly before it died (this the first recorded instance of Coluber consuming fish); (3) the specimen may have died as a result of its inability to properly swallow, or regurgitate, one of the fish; (4) the specimen probably died during the northern summer season.

PaleoBios 14, December 29, 1972
© 1971 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Miocene mammals, stratigraphy and environment of Muruarot Hill, Kenya

CARY T. MADDEN

Fossil mammals from Muruarot Hill in northwestern Kenya are conspecific with mammals in the Early Miocene fauna of Rusinga Island indicating that the age of the Muruarot Hill fauna, long disputed, is almost certainly Early Miocene. Analyses of the sediments and the gastropod and mammal fauna indicates that the paleoenvironment of the site was probably semi-arid and relatively open with shallow, swampy lakes.

PaleoBios 15, February 28, 1974
© 1974 University of California Museum of Paleontology

The Hemingfordian mammal fauna of the Vedder Locality, Branch Canyon Formation, Santa Barbara, California. Part I. Insectivora, Chiroptera, Lagomorpha, and Rodentia (Sciuridae)

J. HOWARD HUTCHISON and EVERETT H. LINDSAY
University of California Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

The Vedder mammal locality of Hemingfordian Land Mammal Age is located in a non-marine tongue of the predominantly marine Branch Canyon Formation. The Branch Canyon Formation has "Temblor" Stage megainvertebrate fossils and Saucesian Stage foraminiferal fossils. Taxa from the locality include a shrew (cf. Limnoecus sp.), mole (Scalopoides sp.), bat (?Phyllostomatidae), rabbit (Hypolagus cf. H. apachensis), pika (Cuyamalagus dawsoni n. gen., n. sp.), ground squirrel (Miospermophilus sp.), and flying squirrel (Blackia sp.). Rodents and horses to be discussed in subsequent parts of the faunal study form the basis for the age determination of the fauna.

PaleoBios 16, April 30, 1974
© 1974 University of California Museum of Paleontology

The Hemingfordian mammal fauna of the Vedder locality Branch Canyon Formation, Santa Barbara, California. Part II. Rodentia (Eomyidae and Heteromydiae)

EVERETT H. LINDSAY

The Vedder fauna is a Hemingfordian (middle Miocene) assemblage of land mammals from the dominantly marine Branch Canyon Formation in the Transverse Ranges of southern California. Five species of extinct rodents (Eomys sp., Pseudotheridomys cuyamensis n. sp., Mookomys cf. M. altifluminus, Proheteromys sulculus, and Proheteromys magnus) from the Vedder locality, UCMP locality V6761, are described.

PaleoBios 17, July 25, 1974
© 1974 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Heptranchias howellii (Reed, 1946) (Selachii: Hexanchidae) in the Eocene of the United States and British Columbia

BRUCE J. WELTON

Notidanion howellii Reed, 1946 (Selachii: Hexanchidae) from the Eocene Shark River Formation of New Jersey is referred to the genus Heptranchias. Teeth of Heptranchias from the Eocene of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, the Lincoln Creek Formation of Washington, and the Keasey and Nestucca Formations of Oregon are considered to be conspecific with Heptranchias howellii. H. howellii is chronologically restricted to strata of Narizian and lower Refugian age in the northeastern Pacific and is interpreted to be a deep water form, occurring in association with upper bathyal-lower neritic invertebrate faunas.

PaleoBios 18, July 10, 1975
© 1975 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Pathology of two fossil sea cows (Mammalia: Sirenia)

DARYL P. DOMNING¹ and FREDRIC L. FRYE²
¹University of California Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA. ²Berkeley Dog and Cat Hospital, Berkeley, California 94704, USA

Pathological conditions in two fossil sirenian skeletons from California include imperfectly healed fractures, osteomyelitis, and ossifying spondylosis in Metaxytherium jordani (Late Miocene), and an unidentified condition grossly resembling osteitis deformans or osteitis fibrosa in Hydrodamalis sp. nov. (Late Pliocene). This is the first natural occurrence of osteomyelitis noted in a sirenian.

PaleoBios 19, August 30, 1975
© 1975 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Collection of taphonomic information from fossil and Recent vertebrate specimens, with a selected bibliography

KATHLEEN MUNTHE and SAMUEL A. McLEOD
Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

NO ABSTRACT

PaleoBios 20, January 12, 1976
© 1976 University of California Museum of Paleontology

A mandible of Beckia (Mammalia: Mustelidae) from Contra Costa County, California

STEPHEN W. EDWARDS
Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

A second specimen of Beckia Bryant, from the Mio-Pliocene undifferentiated Contra Costa Group in Contra Costa County, California, closely resembles the type of Beckia grangerensis Bryant. The Kendall-Mallory local fauna, which includes the specimen of Beckia, appears to be slightly older than the Black Hawk Ranch local fauna, and late Clarendonian in age.

PaleoBios 21, January 12, 1976
© 1976 University of California Museum of Paleontology

An investigation of individual growth and possible age relationships in a population of Protothaca staminea (Mollusca: Pelecypoda)

ANNALISA BERTA
Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

Examination of various quantitative approaches to the determination of molluscan shell growth suggests that the bivalve shell is potentially valuable as a tool for the chronological recording of environmental events.
The present study employs several methods for the determination of molluscan shell growth and utilizes such data to compare growth and age characteristics for a collected population sample of little neck clams — Protothaca staminea. The validity of the assumption, implicit in many investigations, that the major growth bands delimited on the exterior shell surface as concentric rings are deposited in relation to an annual cycle of growth is seriously questioned. Results of the investigation suggest that until the annual nature of the external rings is demonstrated through release and recovery methods, workers attempting to use these rings to substantiate the annual periodicity of growth cycles may be misrepresenting the data and consequently under- or overestimating the ages of the populations.

PaleoBios 22, June 8, 1976
© 1976 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Identification of the native cyprinids (Pisces: Cyprinidae) of California based upon their basioccipitals

RICHARD W. CASTEEL
United States Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA

The forms of the basioccipitals of the native Cyprinidae of California were investigated in order to assess the value of this bone for identification of genus and species. Seven major types of masticatory processes were identified and these, in combination with characters of the basioccipital as seen in lateral aspect, provide a means for identifying most of the genera, species, and, in some cases, subspecies of native California cyprinids. A key is provided and illustrations of the basioccipitals of the native California cyprinids in ventral and lateral views are presented.

PaleoBios 23, July 19, 1976
© 1976 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Evolution of the Thylacosmilidae, extinct saber-toothed marsupials of South America

LARRY G. MARSHALL
Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

The family Thylacosmilidae, predaceous South American extinct saber-tooth marsupials, includes five species: Thylacosmilus atrox Riggs, 1933 (including T. lentis Riggs, 1933), of Huayquerian (middle Pliocene) through early Montehermosan (late Pliocene) age; Notosmilus pattersoni J. L. Kraglievich, 1960, of Chapadmalalan (latest Pliocene) age; Hyaenodonops chapalmalensis Ameghino, 1908, of Chapadmalalan age; Achlysictis lelongi Ameghino, 1891, of early Montihermosan and possibly Huayquerian age; and A. pungens (Ameghino, 1904) of middle Montehermosan age.
Thylacosmilus atrox and H. chapalmalensis are structurally similar and might represent members of a single phylogenetic lineage. The two species of Achlysictis might prove synonymous when better known. N. pattersoni is problematical and might prove a junior synonym of H. chapalmalensis.
The dog-like boryhaenids and saber-tooth thylacosmilids are placed in separate families, the Boryhaenidae and Thylacosmilidae respectively, in the superfamily Boryhaenoidea.

PaleoBios 24, January 31, 1977
© 1977 University of California Museum of Paleontology

A review of Paleocene and Eocene Leptictidae (Mammalia: Eutheria) from North America

MICHAEL J. NOVACEK
Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

Abundant and widely distributed fossils demonstrate a diversity of leptictid species in North America during the Paleocene and Eocene epochs. The late Cretaceous genus Gypsonictops markedly contrasts with the Tertiary leptictids, but is recognized as the most closely related sister taxon of the latter. The genus Diacodon is removed from the Leptictidae because the type species, D. alticuspis, more closely resembles adapisoricid insectivores. Three major leptictid lineages are known from the Paleocene and Eocene of North America. One lineage, the genus Prodiacodon, shows the retention of primitive sectorial features in the dentition. The second lineage, Palaeictops, shows a more derived "bunodont" condition. Palaeictops, particularly P. matthewi (n. sp.), is undoubtedly closely related to the Oligocene Leptictis. Myrmecoboides represents the third early divergent lineage not closely related with other leptictid genera. A new species, Prodiacodon crustulum, from the Puercan of Montana shows a combination of dental characters intermediate between Gypsonictops (Hypoconus) and Prodiacodon puercensis.

PaleoBios 25, June 13, 1977
© 1977 University of California Museum of Paleontology

A new genus of murid rodent from the Miocene of Pakistan and comments on the origin of the Muridae

LOUIS L. JACOBS
Department of Geosciences, Laboratory of Paleontology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA

Antemus chinjiensis, new genus and species, from middle Miocene Siwalik deposits of Pakistan is the oldest and most primitive member of the Muridae yet described. It confirms that murids evolved from the Cricetidae and allows determination of homology of upper molar cusps. The present centers of diversity of the Muridae are the result of emigration from a south Asian center of origin no earlier than Miocene time.

PaleoBios 26, June 20, 1977
© 1977 University of California Museum of Paleontology

A new species of Gregorymys (Rodentia: Geomyidae) from the Miocene of Colorado

JENS MUNTHE
Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

Gregorymys larsoni n. sp. is a very late survivor of the Gregorymys lineage. It is known only from the Derby Peak fauna of late Barstovian or early Clarendonian age. Radiometric dates obtained from volcanic rocks above and below the sediments from which the Derby Peak fauna was collected range from approximately 13 to 10 million years before present. G. larsoni is temporally disjunct from all previously described species of the genus and may represent a population surviving only within a persistent refugium.

PaleoBios 27, August 30, 1977
© 1977 University of California Museum of Paleontology

First record of Teleoceras (Rhinocerotidae) from Ringold Formation, Pliocene of Washington

ERIC PAUL GUSTAFSON
Department of Geology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA

The first identifiable vertebrate specimen from the conglomerate middle member of the Ringold Formation, Franklin County, Washington, is a mandible of the short-legged rhinocerotid Teleoceras. The middle member of the Ringold had been considered Blancan (Pliocene) in age because of the presence of the early Blancan White Bluffs local fauna in immediately overlying beds. The Teleoceras mandible is younger than basalts dated at 8.6 million years. It is similar to Teleoceras specimens from the Hemphillian McKay Reservoir local fauna of Oregon, and is probably late Hemphillian in age.

PaleoBios 28, August 1, 1978
© 1978 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Studies on fossil phyllodont fishes: a new species of Phyllodus (Elopiformes: Albulboidea) from the Late Cretaceous of Montana

RICHARD ESTES¹ and ROBERT HIATT²
¹Department of Zoology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182, USA; ²Box 1086, Glendive, Montana 59330, USA

Phyllodus paulkatoi, n. sp., from the Late Cretaceous Hell Creek Formation of Montana, is the first Cretaceous record and most primitive member of the genus, lacking the transverse widening of the central row of teeth on the basibranchial tooth plate. A cladistic arrangement of the Phyllodontinae suggests that phyllodontids are derived from albulids through the Early Cretaceous albulid Casierius. Phyllodontids represent a poorly-known but common group of albuloid fishes known only from oral tooth plates; the group was distributed along a shallow water "track" extending from epicontinental seas on the North American continent across the North Atlantic to Europe, apparently becoming extinct shortly after separation of Europe and North America in the Early Eocene.

PaleoBios 29, 1979
© 1979 University of California Museum of Paleontology

The Hemingfordian mammal fauna of the Vedder locality Branch Canyon Formation, Santa Barbara, California. Part III. Carnivora, Perissodactyla, Artiodactyla and summary

JENS MUNTHE
Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

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PaleoBios 30, 1979
© 1979 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Leidyosuchus canadensis (Crocodilia: Crocodylidae) from the Early Paleocene of Montana

MICHAEL T. GREENWALD
University of California Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

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PaleoBios 31, May 15, 1980
© 1980 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Anniella (Sauria: Anguidae) from the Miocene of California

JACQUES ARMAND GAUTHIER
Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

Vertebrae indistinguishable from those of Recent Anniella geronimensis and A. pulchra are described as a part of the Kendall-Mallory local fauna from the Bolinger Canyon Quarry in the undifferentiated Contra Costa Group, Contra Costa County, California. The vertebrae probably represent a single individual and mark the first appearance, approximately ten million years ago (Clarendonian; Upper Miocene), of Anniella, a highly specialized, fossorial genus of Anguidae.

PaleoBios 32, 1980
© 1980 University of California Museum of Paleontology

The mammal-bearing Early Tertiary horizons of China

G.V. SHKURKIN

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PaleoBios 33, 1980
© 1980 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Gallolestes pachymandibularis (Mammalia: Theria, incertae sedis) from Late Cretaceous deposits in Baja California del Norte, Mexico

WILLIAM A. CLEMENS
Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

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PaleoBios 34, December 18, 1980
© 1980 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Osteopygis sp., a marine turtle from the Late Cretaceous Moreno Formation of California

DAVID E. FOSTER
University of California Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

An osteopygine toxochelyid turtle from the marine Cretaceous of California is the first Pacific appearance of the family and extends the geographic range of the group beyond previously known North Atlantic, North American "Western Interior Sea," and South American occurrences. The uncertain presence of nasal bones in this genus may require a reassessment of the traditional derivation of the genus Erquelinnesia from Osteopygis.

PaleoBios 35, March 15, 1981
© 1981 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Skeletal morphology and function of the Miocene rodent Schizodontomys harkseni

KATHLEEN MUNTHE
Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA

Two specimens of Schizodontomys harkseni (Rodentia: Geomyidae) from Wyoming — a skeleton from the Split Rock local fauna site and a skull from the Uva Breaks area — extend the known geochronologic range of the taxon from the early Hemingfordian into the later Hemingfordian. These specimens also expand the known geographic distribution of the species, recognized previously from Oregon and southern South Dakota. Comparisons with other geomyids of both fossorial and saltatorial habitus suggest S. harkseni was at least quadrupedially saltatorial; it does not possess the fossorial specializations present in geomyines (Geomys and Thomomys) and shows many similarities to Heteromys and Dipodomys. This conclusion suggests that Schizodontomys, and perhaps the entire subfamily Pleurolicinae, should be removed from the family Geomyidae as it is currently diagnosed.

PaleoBios 36, July 17, 1981
© 1981 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Pliometanastes protistus (Edentata: Megalonychidae) from Knight's Ferry, California with a discussion of early Hemphillian megalonychids

SUE ELLEN HIRSCHFELD
Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, Hayward, California 94542, USA

A well-preserved, partial skeleton of Pliometanastes protistus Hirschfeld and Webb, 1968, is described from the Siphon Canal locality (Early Hemphillian) in the Mehrten Formation near the Knight's Ferry, Stanislaus County, California. A tuff four meters overlying the sloth has been K-Ar dated at 8.19–.16 mybp (Hugh Wagner, personal communication, 1980) making this the earliest, most precisely dated and westernmost occurrence of P. protistus.
The oldest ground sloth in North America, from the Oshkosh Quarry, Nebraska, dated at 9-9.5 mybp (Marshall et al., 1979) and identified as Megalonyx (Schultz and Stout, 1948, Marshall et al., 1979) is reevaluated and is now considered an indeterminate megalonychid. The earliest occurrence of Megalonyx is Late Hemphillian. The closeness of the relationship between Pliometanastes and Megalonyx is still in question.

PaleoBios 37, July 19, 1981
© 1981 University of California Museum of Paleontology

Emydoidea (Emydidae: Testudines) from the Barstovian (Miocene) of Nebraska

J. HOWARD HUTCHISON
University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

A hypoplastron of Emydoidea sp. from the Barstovian of Nebraska provides the oldest record thus far of the Emys Group. Early records of Terrapene in conjunction with Emydoidea indicate a pre-Barstovian origin of the Emys Group and a probable earlier distribution of the Emys lineage to the Old World.

An index to Mesozoic Mammals: The First Two-Thirds of Mammalian History

JOHN J. CHIMENT¹ and VICTORIA J. CHIMENT²
¹Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA and Paleontological Research Institution, Ithaca, New York 14850 USA; ²Perry City, New York 14866

[An index to the 1979 University of California Press edition of Mesozoic Mammals: The First Two-Thirds of Mammalian History, edited by Drs. Jason A. Lillegraven, Zophia Kielan-Jaworowska and William A. Clemens.]

A new salamander of the family Batrachosauridae from the Late Miocene of North America, with notes on other batrachosauroidids

B.G. NAYLOR

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Hesperornis in Alaska

LAURIE J. BRYANT
Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

Hesperornis is reported from the Ignek Formation, Echooka River, Alaska. While not a northward extension of the range of this genus, its discovery in Alaska is an interesting addition to high-latitude Cretaceous vertebrate faunas. The age of this isolated specimen cannot be determined with precision but is doubtless late Cretaceous (Coniacian-Campanian).

Clypeaster biarritzensis Cotteau (Echinoidea) in Lower Asmari Formation (Early Oligocene) of southwest Iran

J. WYATT DURHAM¹ and FATHOLLAH MOJAB²
¹Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA; ²Kaftarak Avenue, opposite Tourist Camp, 71476, Shiraz, Iran

A collection of "sand dollar" type echinoids from the Lower Asmari Formation (Early Oligocene) near Yasuj in southwest Iran (30° 36' N Lat., 51° 41' E Long.) is referred to Clypeaster biarritzensis Cotteau. This species, described from the Tongrian (Early Oligocene) of southwest France, is also known from northern Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, and probably Somalia, and thus has a known geographic extent of nearly 5,000 km along the Tethyan Seaway. For comparison, the Recent C. reticulatus occurs from Natal to the Hawaiian Islands (about 18,000 km), while C. rarispina and C. humilis have geographic ranges on the order of 10,000 km but other living species of the genus mostly do not have such extensive ranges.

Fossil Odontocetes (Mammalia: Cetacea) from the Almejas Formation, Isla Cedros, Mexico

LAWRENCE G. BARNES

Belonostomus (Teleostei: Aspidorhynchidae) from the Late Paleocene of North Dakota

LAURIE J. BRYANT
Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

A jaw fragment of Belonostomus from the Tongue River Formation (Tiffanian, late Paleocene) of Morton County, North Dakota, extends the known range of this genus some 8 million years into the Cenozoic. Like the Late Cretaceous Belonostomus longirostris from the Western Interior of North America, this specimen was collected from fresh water deposits.

Characters, stratigraphy, and "Depopperate" logic: an essay on phylogenetic reconstruction

RICHARD A. LAWS and DAVID E. FASTOVSKY

Phylogenetic reconstruction utilizing stratigraphy or morphology is based upon a number of untestable assumptions, and in the philosophical context, one is no less imperfact an indicator of phylogeny than the other. Concepts such as similarity, homology, and polarity in phylogenetic reconstruction are unsuited to hypothetico-deductive methods because no phylogenetic hypothesis may ever be unequivocably rejected. Phylogenies are thus developed by the weight of comfirming evidence. Stratigraphy provides important access to the historical dimension. Phylogeny reconstruction is best based upon a knowledgeable application of as many lines of evidence as are available; congruence between those lines indicates the most robust hypothesis.

Late Pliocene (Blancan) Scapanus (Scapanus) (Talpidae: Mammalia) from the Glenns Ferry Formation of Idaho

J. HOWARD HUTCHISON
University of California Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

Scapanus hagermanensis n. sp. from the Hagerman fauna of the Glenns Ferry Formation of central Idaho is the first fossil species that shows a close and suggested ancestral relationship to the extant species S. orarius and S. townsendii. It indicates that the differentiation of these species is younger than 3.4 Ma (middle Blancan age). A tooth from the Grand View fauna, high in the Glenns Ferry Formation, indicates the presence of a larger mole about the size of S. townsendii in the late Blancan (about 1.9–2.6 Ma).

Recent and fossil species of the genus Erginus from the North Pacific Ocean (Patellogastropoda: Mollusca)

DAVID R. LINDBERG
University of California Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

The status of the genus Erginus Jeffreys, 1877 is discussed for the first time since the taxon was proposed. The recent species Acmaea apicina Dall, 1879, Acmaea sybaritica Dall, 1871, Problacmaea moskalevi Golikov and Kussakin, 1972, Patella rubella Fabricius, 1780 and the fossil species Acmaea vaderensis Lindberg, 1979 and Acmaea asmiiformis Yokoyama, 1926 are here assigned to the genus. A new species Erginus puniceus, is described from the western boreal Pacific Ocean and the fossil species Erginus vaderensis from the Eocene of Washington is redescribed.

Systematics, stratigraphy, and chronology for mammalian fossils (Late Arikareean to Hemingfordian) from the uppermost John Day Formation, Warm Springs, Oregon

LOWELL DINGUS
Department of Vertebrate Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York 10024, USA

Eighteen taxa of fossil mammals were collected from three geographic clusters of localities with Member I, the stratigraphically highest member in the western facies of the John Day Formation near Warm Springs, Oregon. The taxa include: Archaeolagus cf. macrocephalus, Mesogaulus aff. M. vetus, Entoptychus individens, ?Palaeocastor, Tomarctus or Euoplocyon, Parahippus aff. P. leonensis, Parahippus pawniensis, Anchitherium sp., Archaeohippus sp., cf. Floridaceras whitei, Cynorca sociale, Merycochoerus cf. matthewi, Merychyus (Merychyus) cf. arenarum, Merychyus (Merychyus) calaminthus, Michenia deschutensis n. sp., cf. Hypertragulus, Leptomerycini, Barbouromeryx (Bouromeryx) submilleri.
Based on biochronologic correlations, nine taxa suggest a late Arikareean age for the fauna from Warm Springs: Entoptychus individens, Archaeolagus cf. macrocephalus, Merychyus cf. arenarum, Merychyus calaminthus, Merycochoerus cf. matthewi, Michenia deschutensis n. sp., and probably ?Palaeocastor, cf. Hypertragulus, and Leptomerycini. The new species of Camelidae, Michenia deschutensis, represents an intermediate stage of evolution between Michenia exilis and Michenia agatensis from the late Arikareean faunas of the Marsland (= upper Harrison) Formation of Nebraska. One taxon, Parahippus aff. P. leonensis, appears to be more primitive than its early Hemingfordian relative, P. leonensis. Three taxa are most closely related to early Hemingfordian forms: Mesogaulus aff. M. vetus, Parahippus pawniensis and cf. Floridaceras whitei. Only one form appears to be most closely related to a late Hemingfordian taxon, Barbouromeryx (Bouromeryx) submilleri.
Six stratigraphic sections were measured to order the localities superpositionally; however, lithostratigraphic correlations have not yet been clearly established in all cases. Although the evidence is sketchy, two distinct biostratigraphic levels may be recognizable, one dominated by late Arikareean taxa and the other characterized by younger, possibly Hemingfordian, taxa. Two K-Ar age determinations were obtained from plagioclase phenocrysts contained within tuffs interbedded in the sections. The stratigraphically lower tuff, more closely associated with the late Arikareean forms, yielded an age of 22.7–2.7 Ma, whereas the stratigraphically higher tuff, more closely associated with the possible Hemingfordian forms, yielded an age of 23.4–3.3 Ma.

New fossil primates from the Uintan (Eocene) of Southern California

MARK A. MASON

Preliminary report on a paleontologic investigation of the Lower and Middle members, Sespe Formation, Simi Valley Landfill, Ventura County, California

THOMAS S. KELLY^1,2, E. BRUCE LANDER^1,2, DAVID P. WHISTLER¹, MARK A. ROEDER², and ROBERT E. REYNOLDS³
¹Vertebrate Paleontology Section, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90007, USA; ²Paleo Environmental Associates, Inc., 7734 Varna Ave., North Hollywood, California 91605, USA; ³Division of Earth Science, San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Ln., Redlands, California 92374, USA

A paleontologic investigation employing wet screening and heavy liquid separation of rock samples from the lower and middle members of the continental Sespe Formation at the Simi Valley Landfill, Ventura County, California, is yielding large superposed samples of middle Eocene microvertebrates. This report documents the first records of identifiable mammals ("Peratherium" sp. undet., Sespedectes singularis, Simimys sp. undet.) from the lower member and the first records of Parasauromalus sp. undet.; cf. Tinosaurus sp. indet.; Paleoxantusia sp., cf. P. allisoni; melanosaurine anguids; cf. Batodonoides powayensis; Centetodon sp., cf. C. aztecus; "Namatomys" sp., cf. "N." fantasma; "Namatomys" n. sp.; Paradjidaumo n. sp.; Heliscomys n. sp.; Simimys n. sp.; Zapodidae? n. gen. and sp.; Miacis sp. undet.; Simimeryx n. sp.; and an indeterminate camelid from the middle member. A new local fauna, the Simi Valley Landfill Local Fauna of middle or late Duchesnean age, is recognized in the middle member, and lies stratigraphically higher than the Pearson Ranch Local Fauna.

A seed cone of Pinus sp. (Subsect. Oocarpae) from the Late Miocene of the Mickey Wash Area, Lyon County, Nevada

HOWARD E. SCHORN¹ and WILLIAM H. SHELTON²
¹University of California Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA; ²9357 Greenback Ln., Orangevale, California 95662

NO ABSTRACT

Fossil cutlassfish (Perciformes: Trichiuridae) teeth from the La Meseta Formation (Eocene), Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula

DOUGLAS J. LONG
Department of Integrative Biology and the University of California Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

NO ABSTRACT

A Late Pleistocene occurrence of Equus and Camelops hesternus from the Flint Creek area, western Montana

ROBERT G. DUNDAS
University of California Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

NO ABSTRACT

New Middle Miocene camels from the Caliente Formation, Cuyama Valley Badlands, California

THOMAS S. KELLY
Vertebrate Paleontology Section, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90007, USA

The continental Caliente Formation of the Cuyama Valley badlands, Ventura County, California, contains eight superposed local faunas that range in age from the Hemingfordian to the Hemphillian (middle to late Miocene). In ascending stratigraphic order, these local faunas include the Hidden Treasure Spring (late Hemingfordian), West Dry Canyon (late Hemingfordian), Lower Dome Spring (early Barstovian), Upper Dome Spring (late early Barstovian), Doe Spring (late Barstovian), Mathews Ranch (early Clarendonian), Nettle Spring (late Clarendonian), and Sequence Canyon (Hemphillian) local faunas. Two newly recognized genera of camels, Cuyamacamelus and Paramiolabis, are recorded from the Caliente Formation. Cuyamacamelus is morphologically distinct from all other known camel genera and is of uncertain affinities. Paramiolabis is a miolabine related to Miolabis. Paramiolabis and Miolabis are herein reassigned to the Miolabinae. Three new species of camel are recognized from the Caliente Formation (Cuyamacamelus jamesi, Paramiolabis taylori, and Miolabis fricki). Other species are assigned to Hesperocamelus sp., cf. H. alexandrae (Davidson), and Aepycamelus sp. indet.

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