Smutsia olteniensis Temporal range: Pleistocene early | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Pholidota |
Family: | Manidae |
Genus: | Smutsia |
Species: | †S. olteniensis |
Binomial name | |
†Smutsia olteniensis Terhune, Gaudin, Curran & Petculescu, 2021 [1] | |
Smutsia olteniensis ("pangolin from Olt") is an extinct species of pangolins from genus Smutsia of subfamily Smutsiinae within family Manidae. Fossilized remains of the species were found in Romania, providing evidence regarding the existence of pangolins in Europe during the Plio-Pleistocene period. [2]
The appearance of Smutsia olteniensis is assumed to be closely similar to that of its two extant relatives, Smutsia gigantea and Smutsia temminckii , the giant pangolin and ground pangolin, respectively.
Analysis of a right humerus of Smutsia olteniensis, as well as comparison with extant Smutsia pangolins and a Pliocene humerus belonging to Smutsia gigantea, has led to the discovery of several major differences among the specimen humeri, warranting the creation of a new species. Based on this humerus, the estimated size of Smutsia olteniensis identifies it as smaller than extant adult giant pangolins (normally recorded weighing around 30 kg), making it comparable in size to a juvenile Smutsia gigantea, but larger than the Pliocene counterpart. Humerus size also places it as substantially larger than Smutsia temminckii, the ground pangolin. The majority of bone features suggest that the specimen is closer in morphology to extant pangolin species than any pre-Pliocene fossils. [1] Broadly speaking, the specimen appears to be most similar to the giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea), but does share some bone resemblance with the ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii), such as its globose capitulum. It also has some very meaningful differences in bone structure from both of these mentioned species, such as a larger supinator crest, which has been significantly identified as a feature found in older pangolin fossils. [3]
A humerus was recovered in the 1960s from the fossil locality of Graunceanu, located in the Oltet River valley of Romania. This region was explored extensively in the 1960s, with multiple fossil localities named in the vicinity of the village of Tetoui. Previous reports and publications regarding the site communicated a difficult to identify species, likely of the genus Manis ; however, they did not choose to go into detail on the fossil. Thus, recent reanalysis has expanded information on fauna from the Graunceanu region, as well as other fossil localities existing in the surrounding area. A right humerus was accessioned, catalogued, and photographed in a reinventory process, with prior records and inventories from the original excavation having been lost.
It became clear during the process that the humerus derived from a pangolin, specifically a member of the ground pangolin genus Smutsia. Although very similar to the giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) in most respects, the humerus also shared similarities with other extant pangolins, as well as major differences. Unique features justified the creation of a novel species, Smutsia olteniensis. This notably confirmed the presence of pangolins in Pleistocene Europe, while placing the specimen into the genus Smutsia, present today only in Africa. [1]
The species name recognizes the origin of the humerus fossil that determined it as a new species, found in the region of Oltenia, Romania.
It is difficult to infer the behavior of Smutsia olteniensis based on its fossil record alone, however specific traits and adaptations shared with the Smutsia genus, as well as among pangolins as a whole, makes it very likely Smutsia olteniensis acted similarly to its extant relatives.
Of the three species currently recognised with the genus, Smutsia gigantea and Smutsia temminckii are still in existence, while Smutsia olteniensis is thought to have lived around 1.9 to 2.2 million years ago. [1] The fossil record suggests that Smutsia olteniensis may have been more closely related to Smutsia gigantea, the giant pangolin.[ citation needed ]
Phylogenetic position of Smutsia olteniensis within genus Smutsia [4] [5] [6] [7]
Pholidotamorpha |
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(Pholidotasensu lato) |
Pangolins, sometimes known as scaly anteaters, are mammals of the order Pholidota. The one extant family, the Manidae, has three genera: Manis, Phataginus, and Smutsia. Manis comprises four species found in Asia, while Phataginus and Smutsia include two species each, all found in sub-Saharan Africa. These species range in size from 30 to 100 cm. A number of extinct pangolin species are also known. In September 2023, nine species were reported.
The ground pangolin, also known as Temminck's pangolin, Cape pangolin or steppe pangolin is a species of pangolin from genus Smutsia of subfamily Smutsiinae the within family Manidae. It is one of four species of pangolins which can be found in Africa, and the only one in southern and eastern Africa. The animal was named for the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck.
Manis ("spirit") is a genus of South Asian and East Asian pangolins, the Asiatic pangolins, from subfamily Maninae, within family Manidae.
Manidae ("spirits") is the only extant family of pangolins from superfamily Manoidea. This family comprises three genera, as well as extinct Fayum pangolin.
The giant pangolin is a species of pangolin from genus Smutsia of subfamily Smutsiinae within the family Manidae. It is the largest living species of pangolins. Members of the species inhabit Africa with a range stretching along the equator from West Africa to Uganda. It subsists almost entirely on ants and termites.
Eomanis is the earliest known true pangolin from extinct family Eomanidae within suborder Eupholidota. It lived during the Eocene in Europe. Eomanis fossils found in the Messel Pit in Germany are very similar in size and anatomy to living pangolins of the genus Manis, indicating that pangolins have remained largely unchanged in morphology and behavior for 50 million years. However, unlike modern pangolins, its tail and legs did not bear scales. According to the stomach contents of the excellently preserved Messel specimens, Eomanis’ diet consisted of both insects and plants.
Eurotamandua is an extinct genus of mammal from extinct family Eurotamanduidae that lived during the middle Eocene.
Necromanis is an extinct genus of pangolin from superfamily Manoidea. It lived from the middle Oligocene to middle Miocene in Europe. It was originally placed within family Manidae, but was eventually removed from it as more fossil pholidotids from outside that family were found and studied more extensively. Currently, Necromanis is placed as incertae sedis within the pholidotid superfamily Manoidea, together with the families Manidae and Patriomanidae.
Escavadodon is an extinct genus of pangolin-like myrmecophagous placental mammals of extinct monotypic family Escavadodontidae within extinct order Palaeanodonta, that lived in North America during the middle Paleocene. It contains a single species, Escavadodon zygus, recovered from the Nacimiento Formation of New Mexico.
African tree pangolin (Phataginus) is a genus of African pangolins from subfamily small African pangolins (Phatagininae), within family Manidae. Its members are the more arboreal of the African pangolins.
African ground pangolin is a genus of pangolins from subfamily Smutsiinae within family Manidae. It was formerly considered a subgenus of genus Manis. Its members are the more terrestrial of the African pangolins. In past, this genus was also present in Europe.
Patriomanis is an extinct genus of pangolin from extinct family Patriomanidae. It lived from the late Eocene to early Oligocene of North America and it currently represents the only pangolin known from the Western Hemisphere. The genus contains one species, P. americana, which is known from six specimens, mostly from the Chadronian White River Formation of Montana. It had long digits and a prehensile tail, suggesting that it was arboreal, and its jaw was capable of opening wider than modern pangolins. Its ears and the hair between its scales were also longer than modern pangolins.
Patriomanidae is an extinct family of pangolins from superfamily Manoidea that includes two extinct genera Patriomanis and Cryptomanis. Their fossils are found in Asia and North America.
Ernanodontidae is an extinct family of myrmecophagous placental mammals within extinct order Palaeanodonta, that lived in Asia from the middle to late Paleocene.
Pholidotamorpha is a clade of placental mammals from mirorder Ferae that includes the order Pholidota and extinct order Palaeanodonta.
Euromanis is one of the earliest known pangolin genera. It lived during the middle Eocene in Europe. Euromanis fossils found in the Messel Pit in Germany. Unlike modern pangolins, it did not bear scales on its body.
Eupholidota is a suborder of pangolins that includes two superfamilies: extant Manoidea and extinct Eomanoidea.
Manoidea ("spirits") is a superfamily of pangolins from suborder Eupholidota that includes extant family Manidae, extinct family Patriomanidae and extinct genus Necromanis.
Metacheiromyidae is an extinct paraphyletic family of myrmecophagous placental mammals within extinct order Palaeanodonta, that lived in North America and Europe from the late Paleocene to middle Eocene.
Cryptomanis is an extinct genus of pangolin from extinct family Patriomanidae. The genus is only known from the holotype specimen from middle Eocene deposits from Inner Mongolia, China. The holotype, AMNH 26140, was for years labeled as an unnamed pangolin in the fossil collection for decades. The remains consist of an incomplete postcranial specimen, with nearly complete hind limbs, an incomplete pelvis, a complete lumbar series from an incomplete vertebral column, numerous fragmentary remains of rib and sternal bones, a fragmentary scapula, and partially preserved forelimbs. Based on the femural length Cryptomanis was comparable in size to the modern Sunda pangolin.