The name of this genus comes from Ancient Greekμέγιστον (mégiston) 'greatest' and from Ancient Greekθήριον (thēríon) 'beast'.[1]
The name of species Megistotherium osteothlastes comes from Ancient Greekὀστέον (ostéon) 'bone' and from Ancient Greekθλᾰστός (thlastos) 'crushed' or 'bruised' (with -es being an agent noun: 'bone-crusher').[1]
The family Hyainailouridae comprised a diverse group of hyaenodont predators that were most successful during the Eocene before being possibly ecologically displaced by the order Carnivora during the late Oligocene. Megistotherium emerged in the Miocene towards the end of the hyaenodonts' flourishing; it was a part of a radiation of African hyaenodontids that occurred at that time. Hyainailouros sulzeri is very closely related to Megistotherium, extremely similar in size, structure and ratios - with a long tail, short limbs and robust body.[7] Other authorities[8][9][10] have suggested that Megistotherium is actually a junior synonym of Hyainailouros sulzeri, which is known by an almost complete skeleton, among other remains, and has been found in Europe, Asia and Namibia,[11] and therefore comes from the same localities.
Descriptionedit
Comparison of various Early to Middle Miocene hyaenodonts, including the hyainailurids Hyainailouros sulzeri (top) and Megistotherium osteothlastes (center), and teratodontid Dissopsalis pyroclasticus
Megistotherium osteothlastes is the only known species from this genus, and it was a large hyainailourid that lived during the early Miocene. Its remains have been found in the Ngorora and Muruyur Formations of Kenya, Egypt,[9]Namibia, Uganda[10] and Libya. Named by Robert Savage in 1973,[1]Megistotherium is one of the largest known hyaenodonts. Like the other hyaenodonts, it had an enormous skull relative to its body; up to 66.4 cm (2 ft 2.1 in) in length[1] and a body mass estimated at 500 kg (1,100 lb).[12] The carnassial teeth of Megistotherium (like those of other hyaenodonts) were the upper first molars, and overlapped with their lower molar counterparts like scissors to form a formidable and powerful shearing action.
Paleoecologyedit
The land that is now the Sahara desert was much more fertile in the Miocene. A considerable amount of it was grassland and rainfall was plentiful. Lakes and ponds provided water for large fauna, which provided Megistotherium and other predators with an ample supply of prey. Large hyaenodontids like this one could have originally evolved as specialized predators or scavengers of large African herbivores.[13]Gomphothere bones have been found with its fossils, indicating that Megistotherium may have hunted them for food.
Referencesedit
^ abcdeSavage, R. J. G. (1973). "Megistotherium, gigantic hyaenodont from Miocene of Gebel Zelten, Libya". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Geology. 22 (7): 483–511. doi:10.5962/p.150151.
^Jorge Morales; Martin Pickford (2017). "New hyaenodonts (Ferae, Mammalia) from the Early Miocene of Napak (Uganda), Koru (Kenya) and Grillental (Namibia)" (PDF). Fossil Imprint. 73 (3–4): 332–359. doi:10.2478/if-2017-0019. S2CID 31350436.
^McKenna, Malcolm C.; Bell, Susan K. (1997). Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN978-0-231-11012-9. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
^Morales, Jorge; Pickford, M.; Salesa, Manuel J. (2008). "Creodonta and Carnivora from the Early Miocene of the Northern Sperrgebiet, Namibia". Memoir of the Geological Survey of Namibia. 20: 291–310.
^Solé, F.; Lhuillier, J.; Adaci, M.; Bensalah, M.; Mahboubi, M.; Tabuce, R. (2013). "The hyaenodontidans from the Gour Lazib area (?Early Eocene, Algeria): implications concerning the systematics and the origin of the Hyainailourinae and Teratodontinae". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 12 (3): 303–322. doi:10.1080/14772019.2013.795196. S2CID 84475034.
^Matthew R. Borths; Nancy J. Stevens (2017). "The first hyaenodont from the late Oligocene Nsungwe Formation of Tanzania: Paleoecological insights into the Paleogene-Neogene carnivore transition". PLOS ONE. 12 (10): e0185301. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1285301B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0185301. PMC5636082. PMID 29020030.
^Ginsburg, L. (1980.) "Hyainailouros sulzeri, mammifère créodonte du Miocène d’Europe." Ann. Paléont., 66, 19-73
^Morales, J. and Pickford, M. (2005.) "Carnivores from the Middle Miocene Ngorora Formation (13-12 Ma) Kenya." Estudios Geol., 61, 271-284
^ abMorlo, M., Miller, E.R., and El-Barkooky, A.N. 2007. Creodonta and Carnivora from Wadi Moghra, Egypt. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 27: 145–159. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2007)27[145:CACFWM2.0.CO;2]
^ abMorales, J. and M. Pickford. (2008). "Creodonts and carnivores from the Middle Miocene Muruyur Formation at Kipsaraman and Cheparawa, Baringo District, Kenya." Comptes Rendus Palevol 7 (8): 487-497
^J. Morales, M. Pickford, S. Fraile, M. J. Salesa and D. Soria (2003.) "Creodonta and Carnivora from Arrisdrift, early Middle Miocene of southern Namibia" Mem. Geol. Surv. Namibia 19 177–194.
^Sorkin, B. (10 April 2008). "A biomechanical constraint on body mass in terrestrial mammalian predators". Lethaia. 41 (4): 333–347. Bibcode:2008Letha..41..333S. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.2007.00091.x.
^Rasmussen, D. Tab; Tilden, Christopher D.; Simons, Elwyn L. (May 1989). "New specimens of the giant creodont Megistotherium (Hyaenodontidae) from Moghara, Egypt". Journal of Mammalogy. 70 (2): 442–447. doi:10.2307/1381539. JSTOR 1381539.
Domning, D. P. (1978.) "Sirenia." Evolution of African Mammals. pp. 573–581.
Egi, Naoko (2001.) "Body Mass Estimates in Extinct Mammals from Limb Bone Dimensions: the Case of North American Hyaenodontids." Palaeontology. Vol. 44, Issue 3, Page 497.
Leakey, L. S. B. and R. J. G. Savage (Editors) (1976.) "Fossil Vertebrates of Africa." Academic Press Inc., U.S. ISBN0-12-440404-9.
April 09, 2024
megistotherium, this, article, possibly, contains, original, research, please, improve, verifying, claims, made, adding, inline, citations, statements, consisting, only, original, research, should, removed, november, 2023, learn, when, remove, this, template, . This article possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed November 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Megistotherium is an extinct genus of hyaenodont belonging to the family Hyainailouridae that lived in Africa 3 4 5 6 MegistotheriumTemporal range 19 0 14 0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N early MioceneLife restorationScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder HyaenodontaFamily HyainailouridaeSubfamily HyainailourinaeGenus MegistotheriumSavage 1973 1 Type species Megistotherium osteothlastesSavage 1973Synonymssynonyms of species M osteothlastes Hyainailouros osteothlastes Morales amp Pickford 2017 2 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Paleoecology 4 ReferencesTaxonomy editThe name of this genus comes from Ancient Greek megiston megiston greatest and from Ancient Greek 8hrion therion beast 1 The name of species Megistotherium osteothlastes comes from Ancient Greek ὀsteon osteon bone and from Ancient Greek 8lᾰstos thlastos crushed or bruised with es being an agent noun bone crusher 1 The family Hyainailouridae comprised a diverse group of hyaenodont predators that were most successful during the Eocene before being possibly ecologically displaced by the order Carnivora during the late Oligocene Megistotherium emerged in the Miocene towards the end of the hyaenodonts flourishing it was a part of a radiation of African hyaenodontids that occurred at that time Hyainailouros sulzeri is very closely related to Megistotherium extremely similar in size structure and ratios with a long tail short limbs and robust body 7 Other authorities 8 9 10 have suggested that Megistotherium is actually a junior synonym of Hyainailouros sulzeri which is known by an almost complete skeleton among other remains and has been found in Europe Asia and Namibia 11 and therefore comes from the same localities Description edit nbsp Comparison of various Early to Middle Miocene hyaenodonts including the hyainailurids Hyainailouros sulzeri top and Megistotherium osteothlastes center and teratodontid Dissopsalis pyroclasticusMegistotherium osteothlastes is the only known species from this genus and it was a large hyainailourid that lived during the early Miocene Its remains have been found in the Ngorora and Muruyur Formations of Kenya Egypt 9 Namibia Uganda 10 and Libya Named by Robert Savage in 1973 1 Megistotherium is one of the largest known hyaenodonts Like the other hyaenodonts it had an enormous skull relative to its body up to 66 4 cm 2 ft 2 1 in in length 1 and a body mass estimated at 500 kg 1 100 lb 12 The carnassial teeth of Megistotherium like those of other hyaenodonts were the upper first molars and overlapped with their lower molar counterparts like scissors to form a formidable and powerful shearing action Paleoecology editThe land that is now the Sahara desert was much more fertile in the Miocene A considerable amount of it was grassland and rainfall was plentiful Lakes and ponds provided water for large fauna which provided Megistotherium and other predators with an ample supply of prey Large hyaenodontids like this one could have originally evolved as specialized predators or scavengers of large African herbivores 13 Gomphothere bones have been found with its fossils indicating that Megistotherium may have hunted them for food References edit a b c d e Savage R J G 1973 Megistotherium gigantic hyaenodont from Miocene of Gebel Zelten Libya Bulletin of the British Museum Natural History Geology 22 7 483 511 doi 10 5962 p 150151 Jorge Morales Martin Pickford 2017 New hyaenodonts Ferae Mammalia from the Early Miocene of Napak Uganda Koru Kenya and Grillental Namibia PDF Fossil Imprint 73 3 4 332 359 doi 10 2478 if 2017 0019 S2CID 31350436 McKenna Malcolm C Bell Susan K 1997 Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level New York Columbia University Press ISBN 978 0 231 11012 9 Retrieved 16 March 2015 Morales Jorge Pickford M Salesa Manuel J 2008 Creodonta and Carnivora from the Early Miocene of the Northern Sperrgebiet Namibia Memoir of the Geological Survey of Namibia 20 291 310 Sole F Lhuillier J Adaci M Bensalah M Mahboubi M Tabuce R 2013 The hyaenodontidans from the Gour Lazib area Early Eocene Algeria implications concerning the systematics and the origin of the Hyainailourinae and Teratodontinae Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 12 3 303 322 doi 10 1080 14772019 2013 795196 S2CID 84475034 Matthew R Borths Nancy J Stevens 2017 The first hyaenodont from the late Oligocene Nsungwe Formation of Tanzania Paleoecological insights into the Paleogene Neogene carnivore transition PLOS ONE 12 10 e0185301 Bibcode 2017PLoSO 1285301B doi 10 1371 journal pone 0185301 PMC 5636082 PMID 29020030 Ginsburg L 1980 Hyainailouros sulzeri mammifere creodonte du Miocene d Europe Ann Paleont 66 19 73 Morales J and Pickford M 2005 Carnivores from the Middle Miocene Ngorora Formation 13 12 Ma Kenya Estudios Geol 61 271 284 a b Morlo M Miller E R and El Barkooky A N 2007 Creodonta and Carnivora from Wadi Moghra Egypt Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 27 145 159 doi 10 1671 0272 4634 2007 27 145 CACFWM2 0 CO 2 a b Morales J and M Pickford 2008 Creodonts and carnivores from the Middle Miocene Muruyur Formation at Kipsaraman and Cheparawa Baringo District Kenya Comptes Rendus Palevol 7 8 487 497 J Morales M Pickford S Fraile M J Salesa and D Soria 2003 Creodonta and Carnivora from Arrisdrift early Middle Miocene of southern Namibia Mem Geol Surv Namibia 19 177 194 Sorkin B 10 April 2008 A biomechanical constraint on body mass in terrestrial mammalian predators Lethaia 41 4 333 347 Bibcode 2008Letha 41 333S doi 10 1111 j 1502 3931 2007 00091 x Rasmussen D Tab Tilden Christopher D Simons Elwyn L May 1989 New specimens of the giant creodont Megistotherium Hyaenodontidae from Moghara Egypt Journal of Mammalogy 70 2 442 447 doi 10 2307 1381539 JSTOR 1381539 Domning D P 1978 Sirenia Evolution of African Mammals pp 573 581 Egi Naoko 2001 Body Mass Estimates in Extinct Mammals from Limb Bone Dimensions the Case of North American Hyaenodontids Palaeontology Vol 44 Issue 3 Page 497 Leakey L S B and R J G Savage Editors 1976 Fossil Vertebrates of Africa Academic Press Inc U S ISBN 0 12 440404 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Megistotherium amp oldid 1210269033, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
