Brachyprotoma, also known as the short-faced skunks, is an extinct genus of large skunk that inhabited Pleistocene North America, with specimens having been found from Yukon to West Virgina.[1][2][3]There currently exists only one accepted species, Brachyprotoma obtusata.[4]
Brachyprotoma obtusata is known solely from its jaws and teeth, thus postcraneal elements are deduced based on the relatively similar hog-nosed skunks, but as a more robust form.[5] The holotype, USNM 12045, is a damaged lower jaw that meassures 3 cm (1.2 in) long. [6]Brachyprotoma obtusata's jaw is considered to possess several primitive characteristics, such as the large size of Premolar and Molar, the large size of the anterior premolars, the smaller protocone in P, the weaker metaconid in M and the transverse elongation of M;[7] and some more derived traits, B. obtusata has two upper and three lower premolars, having gotten rid of the anterior-most premolars. [8]
Etymology and Phylogenyedit
The generic name Brachyprotoma, from the greekBrachy, meaning short; and Protomē, the head and neck of a decapitated animal; in reference to the holotype's robust appearance aswell as the curious lack of post-craneal remains. The specific name obtusata hails from the latinObtusitas, meaning dense.
The precise phylogenic relationships of Brachyprotoma within Mephitidae remain controversial, it shares a dental formula with Promephitis hootoni, while its P shares more characteristics with those in the genus mephitis.[8] As of Wang et. al. 2005,[9]Brachyprotoma obtusata was recovered as a more derived skunk:
A speculation on Brachyprotoma's behavior, represented as a scavenger.
It is unclear why Brachyprotoma obtusata went extinct along with the North American megafauna, there are several present specimens in the Bonneville Basin, Utah, circa 24.000 to 18.000 years ago. However, the species is absent in more recent strata; where only generalists remain, suggesting some degree of specialization in Brachyprotoma obtusata, perhaps related to the megafuana itslef.[10]
Referencesedit
^Harington, C. R. (1978). "Quaternary vertebrate faunas of Canada and Alaska and their suggested chronological sequence". Syllogeus. 15: 1–105.
^Grady, F.; Garton, E. R. (2000). "Paleontology and historic field trip of the John Guilday Cave Preserve (Trout Rock)". The Caves of East-central West Virginia. 14: 241–244.
^Youngman, Phillip M. (1986). "The extinct short-faced skunk Brachyprotoma obtusata (Mammalia, Carnivora): first records for Canada and Beringia". Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. 23 (2): 419–424. Bibcode:1986CaJES..23..419Y. doi:10.1139/e86-043.
^ Cope, Edward D. (1899). "Vertebrate remains from Port Kennedy bone deposit". Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Ser. 2. 11 (2): 236–237.
^Wang, Xiaoming; Carranza-Castañeda, Óscar (October 2008). "Earliest hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus (Mephitidae, Carnivora), from the early Pliocene of Guanajuato, Mexico and origin of South American skunks". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 154 (2): 386–407. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00411.x.
^Emslie, Steven D. (2012). "Paleoecology of the Upper Gunnison Basin, Colorado". UNCW Emslie Lab. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
^Pilgrim, G. E. (1933). "A fossil skunk from Samos". American Museum Novitates (663): 13.
^ abŞenyürek, Muzaffer (20 July 1954). "A Sudy of A Skull of Promephitis from The Pontian of Küçükyozgat". Belleten. 18 (71): 279–316. ISSN 0041-4255.
^Wang, Xiaoming; Whistler, David P.; Takeuchi, Gary T. (30 December 2005). "A new basal skunk Martinogale (Carnivora, Mephitinae) from Late Miocene Dove Spring Formation, California, and origin of New World mephitines". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 25 (4): 936–949. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2005)025[0936:ANBSMC]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0272-4634.
^Schmitt, D.N.; Lupo, K.D. (2016), "Changes in Late Quaternary Mammalian Biogeography in the Bonneville Basin", Lake Bonneville - A Scientific Update, Elsevier, pp. 352–370, doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-63590-7.00013-5, ISBN978-0-444-63590-7, retrieved 8 May 2024
brachyprotoma, also, known, short, faced, skunks, extinct, genus, large, skunk, that, inhabited, pleistocene, north, america, with, specimens, having, been, found, from, yukon, west, virgina, there, currently, exists, only, accepted, species, obtusata, tempora. Brachyprotoma also known as the short faced skunks is an extinct genus of large skunk that inhabited Pleistocene North America with specimens having been found from Yukon to West Virgina 1 2 3 There currently exists only one accepted species Brachyprotoma obtusata 4 BrachyprotomaTemporal range Pleistocene An ink drawing of an American Mastodon calf encountering a short faced skunk Brachyprotoma Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Carnivora Family Mephitidae Genus BrachyprotomaBrown 1908 Species B obtusata Binomial name Brachyprotoma obtusataCope 1899 Contents 1 Description 2 Etymology and Phylogeny 3 Extinction 4 ReferencesDescription edit nbsp USNM 12045 Brachyprotoma obtusata is known solely from its jaws and teeth thus postcraneal elements are deduced based on the relatively similar hog nosed skunks but as a more robust form 5 The holotype USNM 12045 is a damaged lower jaw that meassures 3 cm 1 2 in long 6 Brachyprotoma obtusata s jaw is considered to possess several primitive characteristics such as the large size of Premolar 4 displaystyle 4 nbsp and Molar1 displaystyle 1 nbsp the large size of the anterior premolars the smaller protocone in P4 displaystyle 4 nbsp the weaker metaconid in M1 displaystyle 1 nbsp and the transverse elongation of M1 displaystyle 1 nbsp 7 and some more derived traits B obtusata has two upper and three lower premolars having gotten rid of the anterior most premolars 8 Etymology and Phylogeny editThe generic name Brachyprotoma from the greek Brachy meaning short and Protome the head and neck of a decapitated animal in reference to the holotype s robust appearance aswell as the curious lack of post craneal remains The specific name obtusata hails from the latin Obtusitas meaning dense The precise phylogenic relationships of Brachyprotoma within Mephitidae remain controversial it shares a dental formula with Promephitis hootoni while its P4 displaystyle 4 nbsp shares more characteristics with those in the genus mephitis 8 As of Wang et al 2005 9 Brachyprotoma obtusata was recovered as a more derived skunk nbsp A speculation on Brachyprotoma s behavior represented as a scavenger Mephitidae Mydaus Palaeomephitis Promephitis Mephitini Martinogale faulli Martinogale chisoensis Martinogale alveodens Buisnictis Spilogale Brachyprotoma Mephitis Osmotherium ConepatusExtinction editIt is unclear why Brachyprotoma obtusata went extinct along with the North American megafauna there are several present specimens in the Bonneville Basin Utah circa 24 000 to 18 000 years ago However the species is absent in more recent strata where only generalists remain suggesting some degree of specialization in Brachyprotoma obtusata perhaps related to the megafuana itslef 10 References edit Harington C R 1978 Quaternary vertebrate faunas of Canada and Alaska and their suggested chronological sequence Syllogeus 15 1 105 Grady F Garton E R 2000 Paleontology and historic field trip of the John Guilday Cave Preserve Trout Rock The Caves of East central West Virginia 14 241 244 Youngman Phillip M 1986 The extinct short faced skunk Brachyprotoma obtusata Mammalia Carnivora first records for Canada and Beringia Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 23 2 419 424 Bibcode 1986CaJES 23 419Y doi 10 1139 e86 043 Cope Edward D 1899 Vertebrate remains from Port Kennedy bone deposit Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia Ser 2 11 2 236 237 Wang Xiaoming Carranza Castaneda oscar October 2008 Earliest hog nosed skunk Conepatus Mephitidae Carnivora from the early Pliocene of Guanajuato Mexico and origin of South American skunks Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 154 2 386 407 doi 10 1111 j 1096 3642 2008 00411 x Emslie Steven D 2012 Paleoecology of the Upper Gunnison Basin Colorado UNCW Emslie Lab Retrieved 8 May 2024 Pilgrim G E 1933 A fossil skunk from Samos American Museum Novitates 663 13 a b Senyurek Muzaffer 20 July 1954 A Sudy of A Skull of Promephitis from The Pontian of Kucukyozgat Belleten 18 71 279 316 ISSN 0041 4255 Wang Xiaoming Whistler David P Takeuchi Gary T 30 December 2005 A new basal skunk Martinogale Carnivora Mephitinae from Late Miocene Dove Spring Formation California and origin of New World mephitines Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 25 4 936 949 doi 10 1671 0272 4634 2005 025 0936 ANBSMC 2 0 CO 2 ISSN 0272 4634 Schmitt D N Lupo K D 2016 Changes in Late Quaternary Mammalian Biogeography in the Bonneville Basin Lake Bonneville A Scientific Update Elsevier pp 352 370 doi 10 1016 b978 0 444 63590 7 00013 5 ISBN 978 0 444 63590 7 retrieved 8 May 2024 Portals nbsp Paleontology nbsp Prehistoric mammals Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brachyprotoma amp oldid 1223519844, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
