Shungura Formation

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Shungura Formation
Stratigraphic range: Piacenzian-Gelasian
Lower Valley of the Omo-138525.jpg
Lower Omo Valley
Type Geological formation
Unit of Omo Group
Underlies Kalam Formation
Overlies Mursi Formation
Lithology
Primary Sandstone, siltstone
Other Claystone, tuff
Location
Coordinates 5°06′N36°00′E / 5.1°N 36.0°E / 5.1; 36.0
Approximate paleocoordinates 5°48′N36°06′E / 5.8°N 36.1°E / 5.8; 36.1
Country Ethiopia
Extent Omo Subbasin
  Turkana Basin
Ethiopia rel location map.svg
White pog.svg
Shungura Formation (Ethiopia)

The Shungura Formation is a stratigraphic formation located in the Omo river basin in Ethiopia. It dates to the Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene. Oldowan tools have been found in the formation, suggesting early use of stone tools by hominins. Among many others, fossils of Panthera were found in Member G of the formation. [1] [2]

Contents

Geology

The formation comprises sandstones, siltstones, claystones and tuff, deposited in a fluvial to deltaic lacustrine environment.

Paleobiota

Fossil content

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxonTaxon falsely reported as presentDubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Among many others, the following fossils have been reported from the formation: [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [2] [10] [11]

Mammals

Afrotheres

Hyracoidea
Hyraxes of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Gigantohyrax [12] G. maguirei [13] Member B.A giant hyrax.
Proboscideans
Proboscideans of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Loxodonta L. adaurora Member OExtinct subspecies of African elephants.
L. exoptata Member O
Palaeoloxodon recki P. r. shungurensis Member A, B, C, D, and E.An extinct elephant species native to Africa.
Life restoration of Palaeoloxodon recki Elaphus recki 2.png
Life restoration of Palaeoloxodon recki

Artiodactyls

Bovids
Bovids of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Aepyceros A. shungurae Members B, C, D, E, F, and GExtinct relative of modern impala.
Antidorcas A. recki Members B, C, D, E, F, G, and H.Extinct relative of modern springbok
Beatragus B. antiquus Member G.Extinct relative of modern Hirola.
Gazella G. praethomsoni Members F, G, and H.An early relative of gazelle.
Kobus K. ancystrocera Member B, C, E, G, and J.
K. ellipsiprymnus Member G, J, and K.A waterbuck.
K. oricornis Extinct relatives of the Kobus family.
K. sigmoidalis Members D, E, F, and G.
Megalotragus M. sp. An alcelaphine.
Menelikia M. lyrocera Members C, E, F, G, H, I, and J.An extinct reduncinae artiodactyl.
Pelorovis P. sp.
Parmularius P. altidens Members G and H.An extinct relative of alcelaphine.
Redunca R. sp. A reedbuck.
Syncerus S. cf. acoelotus Members B, C, D, E, F, and G.A cape buffalo.
Tragelaphus T. gaudryi Member F.Relative of spiral horned anterlope.
T. nakuae
Camelids
Camels of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Camelus C. grattardi [14] Lower member G (G4-G13).Distal humerus L1–68–76, maxilla fragment with heavily worn P4–M2 (Omo 75S-70–956); same individual as Omo 75–69–2222, M3.Extinct relative of Camels.
Camelus C. sp.
Giraffidae
Giraffids of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Giraffa G. gracilis Members D, E, F, and G.Extinct relative of modern giraffe.
G. pygmaea Members G.
G. jumae
Sivatherium S. maurusiumMember F.An extinct giraffid.
Hippopotamidae
Hippopotamids of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Hexaprotodon H. protoamphibius An extinct hippopotamid relative.
H. shungurensis Member CA partial skull (calvarium and mandible)
Hippopotamus H. protoamphibius
Suidae
Suidae of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Kolpochoerus K. limnetes Members E, D, G, F, and H.An omnivorous pig.
Kolpochoerus limnetes 3.jpg
Metridiochoerus M. jacksoni Members E, F, and G.A giant warthog.
Metridiochoerus BW.jpg
M. modestus Members G
Notochoerus N. euilus Members A, C.A tetraconodontinae suid.
N. scotti [15] Members B, C, and H
Nyanzachoerus N. kanamensis Members A, BA tetraconodontinae suid.
N. jaegeriMember A

Carnivora

Carnivorans of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Enhydriodon [16] E. omoensis [17] Member C.Right femur (L 183–14), fragmented mandible, and lower dentition.A lion-sized river otter.
Enhydriodon omoensis right femur faced at different sides. Enhydriodon Omoensis Femur Views.png
Enhydriodon omoensis right femur faced at different sides.
Dinofelis D. petteri Member A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. [18] Damaged cranium skull and dentition fragments, OMO 1–768–3. [18] A sabertooth cat.
D. sp. [18] Member A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. [18] Postcranial skulls (OMO 28-67-1075 from Member B), craniodental, and dentition fragments. [18]
Helogale H. hirtula Extinct species of Mongoose family.
H. kitafe
Homotherium H. aethiopicum Members C and G.

Chiroptera

Bats of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Hipposideros H. kaumbului Member F.A Roundleaf bat.
Taphozous T. abitus Member F.Extinct relative of tomb bats and sheath-tailed bats.

Eulipotyphla

Eulipotyphlas of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Crocidura C. aithiops
Suncus S. haesaertsiRelatives of Shrews
S. cf. lixus
S. shungurensis

Lagomorphs

Lagomorphs of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Lepus L. capensis Member E, and lower Members F and G.

Perissodactyls

Chalicotheres
Chalicotheres of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Ancylotherium A. hennigi [19] Members D and G. [19] Several tooth fragments and postcranial skeletonA chalicothere.
AncylotheriumJF.png
Rhinocerotidae
Rhinocerotidaes of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Ceratotherium C. simum Member A, B, C, D, E, J, K, L, and O.Multiple dentition, cranium, and postcranial skeletion.A white rhinoceros.
Diceros D. bicornis Member A, B, D, L, K, and O.Complete Skull and Molars.A black rhinoceros.
Equidae
Equids of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Equus E. oldowayensis [20] Members F, G, H, I, and J.Jawbone mandible with complete dentition.An Olduvai zebra.
Eurygnathohippus E. libycum Members C, E, F, G, and L.A Hipparionine horse.
Hipparion H. sitifense [21] Members A, B, C, D, E, F, and GMultiple cheek teeth and fragmented dentition.Relatives of early horses.

Primates

Cercopithecidae
Cercopithecids of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Dinopithecus D. sp. [22] [23]
Paracolobus P. mutiwa [23] Member C, E, and G. [24] [11] A skull, humerus and femur bone.An early Colobinae monkey.
Rhinocolobus R. turkanaensis [23] [11] Member C, E, and G. [24] A skull humerus and femur bone.An early Colobinae monkey.
Theropithecus T. brumpti Members B, C, D, E, F, and G.A skullExtinct relative of Gelada Baboons.
Theropithecus brumpti skull cast (cropped).jpg
T. oswaldi Members D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, and L.A skull
Galagidae
Galagids of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Otolemur O. howelli Member B.L. 1-378 (right m2), L. 1-377 (holotype, left maxillary fragment) with P4-M1, and Omo 229-73-4018 (right mandibular fragment). [25] Extinct relative of greater galago.
Hominins
Homonids of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Australopithecus A. sp.
Paranthropus P. aethiopicus Members C, D, E, and F.
P. boisei Members G and K.

Rodents

Rodents of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Aethomys A. deheinzelini a rock mouse.
Arvicanthis A. sp.
Acomys A. sp.
Gerbillus G. sp.
Heterocephalus H. atikoi
Jaculus J. orientalis
Mastomys M. minor
Paraxerus P. ochraceus
Pelomys P. sp.
Saidomys S. sp.
Tatera T. sp.
Xerus X. sp.

Reptiles

Reptiles of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Euthecodon [26] E. brumpti Member H.Complete partial skull.A giant African long-snouted crocodile, formally named Tomistoma brumpti.

Fish

Fish of the Shungura Formation
TaxaSpeciesLocalityMaterialNotesImages
Auchenoglanis A. sp. Members F3 and G24.Omo 199 1973-1278 and Omo 215 1973–2556, two pectoral spines, the former lacking the distalmost tip.
Clarias C. sp.
Gymnarchus G. sp.
Polypterus P. bichir Upper Member A.An association of several rows of rhombic ganoid scales, Omo 40–4343.A Nile Bichir.
Nile bichir.png
Sindacharax S. greenwoodi Relatives of African tetras.
S. omoensis Upper Member A.Omo 128–72–22, Partial premaxilla (right) broken off lateral to the third outer tooth and second inner tooth, with first and second inner teeth in situ, and tooth bases visible of the first, second, and third outer teeth.
Synodontis S. frontosus relatives of Mochokid catfishes
S. schall

See also

References

  1. Sabol, 2011, p.230
  2. 1 2 Boaz, N. T., Howell, F. C., & McCrossin, M. L. (1982). Faunal age of the Usno, Shungura B and Hadar Formations, Ethiopia. Nature, 300(5893), 633–635. https://doi.org/10.1038/300633A0
  3. ETE Locality 807, Omo - member G at Fossilworks.org
  4. ETE Locality 860, Omo - member C at Fossilworks.org
  5. ETE Locality 486, Omo - O.75 at Fossilworks.org
  6. ETE Locality 452, Omo - O.81, P.928 at Fossilworks.org
  7. ETE Locality 363, Omo - L.28 at Fossilworks.org
  8. ETE Locality 835, Omo - member G5 at Fossilworks.org
  9. Stewart, Kathlyn & Murray, Alison. (2008). Fish remains from the Plio-Pleistocene Shungura Formation, Omo River basin, Ethiopia. Geobios - GEOBIOS-LYON. 41. 283-295. 10.1016/j.geobios.2007.06.004.
  10. Sillen, A. (1986). Biogenic and Diagenetic Sr/Ca in Plio-Pleistocene Fossils of the Omo Shungura Formation. Paleobiology, 12(3), 311–323. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2400437
  11. 1 2 3 Pallas, L., Daver, G., Merceron, G., & Boisserie, J. (2023, February 3). Postcranial anatomy of the long bones of colobines (Mammalia, Primates) from the Plio-Pleistocene Omo Group deposits (Shungura Formation and Usno Formation, 1967-2018 field campaigns, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia). https://doi.org/10.31233/osf.io/bwegt
  12. Wesselman H. B. (1984) The Omo Micromammals: Systematics and Paleoecology of Early Man Sites from Ethiopia, Contributions to Vertebrate Evolution 17
  13. Skinner, J. D.; Chimimba, Christian T. (2005). The Mammals of the Southern African Sub-region. Cambridge University Press. p. 41. ISBN 9781107394056. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  14. John Rowan, Pietro Martini, Likius Andossa, Gildas Merceron, Jean-Renaud Boisserie. New Pliocene remains of Camelus grattardi (Mammalia, Camelidae) from the Shungura Formation, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, and the evolution of African camels. Historical Biology, 2018, 31 (9), pp.1123-1134. ⟨10.1080/08912963.2017.1423485⟩. ⟨hal-02100346⟩
  15. White, T. D., & Suwa, G. (2004). A New Species of Notochoerus (Artiodactyla, Suidae) from the Pliocene of Ethiopia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 24(2), 474–480. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4524733
  16. GROHÉ C., UNO K. & BOISSERIE J.-R. 2022. — Lutrinae Bonaparte, 1838 (Carnivora, Mustelidae) from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Lower Omo Valley, southwestern Ethiopia: systematics and new insights into the paleoecology and paleobiogeography of the Turkana otters. Comptes Rendus Palevol 2022 (30): 681-705. https://doi.org/10.5852/cr-palevol2022v21a30
  17. Grohé, Camille & Uno, Kevin & Boisserie, Jean-Renaud. (2022). Lutrinae Bonaparte, 1838 (Carnivora, Mustelidae) from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Lower Omo Valley, southwestern Ethiopia: systematics and new insights into the paleoecology and paleobiogeography of the Turkana otters. 21. 681-705. 10.5852/cr-palevol2022v21a30.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 Werdelin, Lars & Lewis, Margaret. (2001). A revision of the genus Dinofelis (Mammalia, Felidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 132. 147 - 258. 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2001.tb02465.x.
  19. 1 2 Denis Geraads. Faunal Change in Eastern Africa at the Oldowan – Acheulean Transition. The Emergence of the Acheulean in East Africa and Beyond: Contributions in Honor of Jean Chavaillon, In press. ffhalshs-01819105
  20. Gilbert, William & Bernor, Raymond. (2009). Equidae. 10.1525/california/9780520251205.003.0006.
  21. Eisenmann, Véra. (1976). Equidae from the Shungura formation. Earliest Man and Environments in the Lake Rudolf Basin. 225-233.
  22. Jablonski, Nina & Leakey, Meave & Anton, Mauricio. (2008). Systematic paleontology of the cercopithecines. The Fossil Monkeys. 6. 103-300.
  23. 1 2 3 Gilbert, C. C. (2013). Cladistic analysis of extant and fossil African papionins using craniodental data. Journal of Human Evolution, 64(5), 399–433. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JHEVOL.2013.01.013
  24. 1 2 Pallas, L., Daver, G., Merceron, G., & Boisserie, J. (2023, February 3). Postcranial anatomy of colobines (Mammalia, Primates) from the Plio-Pleistocene Omo Group deposits (Shungura Formation and Usno Formation, 1967-2018 field campaigns, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia). https://doi.org/10.31233/osf.io/bwegt
  25. Werdelin, Lars & Partridge, Timothy & Seiffert, Erik & Feakins, Sarah & Demenocal, Peter & Jacobs, Bonnie & Gunnell, Gregg & Holroyd, Patricia & Asher, Robert & Sanders, William & Rasmussen, David & Gutiérrez, Mercedes & Domning, Daryl & Winkler, Alisa & Avery, D. Margaret & Godinot, Marc & Harrison, Terry & Godfrey, Laurie & Jablonski, Nina & Cerling, Thure. (2010). Cenozoic Mammals of Africa. 10.1525/california/9780520257214.001.0001. Page: 344-345
  26. Joleaud ML (1920) On the presence of a Gavialide of the genus Tomistoma in the freshwater Pliocene of Ethiopia, Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences 70, 816-818

Bibliography

Further reading