Mammalogy

Small Mammals from Kuala Atok, Taman Negara Pahang, Malaysia.2012.4

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

A faunal survey aimed to document small mammals was conducted at Nature Study Centre of Kuala Atok, Taman Negara... more A faunal survey aimed to document small mammals was conducted at Nature Study Centre of Kuala Atok, Taman Negara Pahang from 16th to 23rd May 2008. This survey was part of the Biodiversity Inventory Programme that was organised by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP). On average, ten mist nets, two four-bank harp traps, 100 cage traps and 40 Sherman traps were set for six trapping nights. A total of 79 individuals from three orders, seven families and 23 species were caught in this study. Of the 23 species, three were frugivorous bats, 15 were insectivorous bats, four were rodents and one was treeshrew. Our sampling site was bounded by Pahang River and mainly covered with lowland secondary forest. This is evidence by the highest abundance of Long-tailed Giant Rat (Leopoldamys sabanus) for non-volant small mammals, and Fawn Roundleaf Bat (Hipposideros cervinus) for volant small mammals that are adapted to disturbed habitat. The increasing species cumulative curve for Chiropteran indicates that there may be more species yet to be recorded from this study site compared to rodents and treeshrews. Preliminary analysis on the species similarity between our study site to other survey reports in Peninsular Malaysia, positioned Kuala Atok with Krau Wildlife Reserve and Bukit Fraser Forest Reserve that are located adjacent to our study site. This similarity further indicate the importance of future survey in Kuala Atok especially for Chiropterans to properly document the species diversity in this site that may be as rich as other well studied area e.g. Krau Wildlife Reserve.

Thackeray, J. F. and Reynolds, S. (1997). Variability in Plio-Pleistocene climates, habitats, and ungulate biomass in southern Africa. South African Journal of Science Volume 93: 171-172.

by Sally Reynolds

Vrba and deMenocal and Bloemendal have emphasised the importance of climatic change, particularly temperature, in the... more Vrba and deMenocal and Bloemendal have emphasised the importance of climatic change, particularly temperature, in the context of evolution on the African continent within the past 5 million years. There is no doubt that long-term changes in climate would have affected African habitats, which in turn would have affected the distribution and abundance of populations of various mammalian taxa, including ungulates and hominids. In this study we explore relationships between oxygen isotope ratios (as determined from Shackleton's analysis of foraminfera from deep-sea cores), and estimates of ungulate biomass as determined from faunal assemblages from Plio-Pleistocene sites in southern
Africa, using an approach outlined previously. We go further to assess temporal variability in ungulate biomass in terms of changes in habitat, gene pools and hominid evolution.

Bishop, L. C. and Reynolds, S. C. (2000). Fauna from Twin Rivers. In The Middle Stone Age of Zambia: South Central Africa Barham, L. (ed). Bristol: Western Academic and Specialist Press pp 217-222.

by Sally Reynolds

Here we present results of an analysis of faunal remains from Twin Rivers, Zambia recovered during the 1999 field... more Here we present results of an analysis of faunal remains from Twin Rivers, Zambia recovered during the 1999 field season under the direction of Larry Barham. Animal remains from the locality were divided into three provenance groups - A Block, F Block and G Block - and examined for taxonomic and taphonomic information. This information is used to discuss the palaeoecology and site formation of these assemblages. This contribution examines the faunal remains from each assemblage in chronological order of the deposits. The identifications and characteristics ofthe bones from each recovered group of remains are described. The inferences about human behaviour and palaeoenvironment are discussed.

Reynolds, S. C. (2007a). Temporal variation in Plio-Pleistocene Antidorcas (Mammalia: Bovidae) horncores: the case from Bolt’s Farm and why size matters South African Journal of Science Volume 103:47-50.

by Sally Reynolds

Morphological differences in samples of fossil (Antidorcas recki)
and modern (A. marsupialis) springbok horncores... more Morphological differences in samples of fossil (Antidorcas recki)
and modern (A. marsupialis) springbok horncores suggest that the ancestral species shows less sexual dimorphism than is observed in the horn dimensions of modern springbok. This pattern may prove useful when evaluating lossil springbok specimens in South African Pfio-Pleistocene faunal assemblages. Undated Antidorcas craniodental specimens from Pit 3, Bolt's Farm (Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng, South Africa) have previously been referred to A. recki by Cooke. However, comparison with numerous other springbok samples suggests that these specimens are more likely to represent male and lemale fossils of the extant species, A. marsupialis. This re-evaluationa dds weight to the fossil evidence implying that the modern form of springbok is a southern Alrican endemic species which first appeared around 1.5-1.0 million years ago in Swartkrans Member 1. Bolt's Farm Pit 3 fossils are inferred
to be of a similar age.

Ectoparasitic assemblages on mormoopid bats (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae) from Puerto Rico

by J. Angel Soto-Centeno

Comparative distribution & diversity of bats in Sarawak, Borneo. 2011

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Read other papers by Vijaya et al in this page

Surveys on the chiropteran diversity were conducted at eight different localities in Sarawak to document the bat... more Surveys on the chiropteran diversity were conducted at eight different localities in Sarawak to document the bat diversity as well as to estimate the composition of bats in these areas. The major finding of bat surveys shows that montane areas have distinct chiropteran composition compared with those in lowland and logged areas. Disturbed habitats do pose a threat to the overall diversity of bats, with the generalist bats been more successful in colonising altered area than those with specialised habitat requirements. Sampling of bats targeted at different site and vegetation type from several protected areas in Sarawak have revealed the current record of bats in Sarawak and its diversity can be monitored for better management of biodiversity in this important region.

Keywords: Diversity, chiroptera, forest types, montane, habitat disturbance, Borneo

A morphometric analysis of Rhinolophus species complex. 2008.

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

DFA and CVA analyses were used to differentiate Malaysian Rhinolophus species complex. DFA and CVA analyses were used to differentiate Malaysian Rhinolophus species complex.

Reynolds, S. C., Vogel, Clarke, R. J. and Kuman, K. A. (2003). Preliminary Results of Excavations at Lincoln Cave, Sterkfontein. South African Journal of Science Volume 99: 286-288.

by Sally Reynolds

Recent excavations of undisturbed deposits within the Lincoln Cave, Sterkfontein, have conclusively demonstrated that... more Recent excavations of undisturbed deposits within the Lincoln Cave, Sterkfontein, have conclusively demonstrated that at least one of the deposits is mid- to late Pleistocene in age. The artefacts recovered from this excavation are in a datable context,
sandwiched between two flowstone layers which could be dated using uranium series methods. The excavation furthermore yielded good indications that a portion of an older breccia has been eroded and that fauna and artefacts from this older, reworked breccia have been redeposited within the younger deposit. These findings suggest that the Lincoln Cave system may be connected to the Sterkfontein Cave system and that the location of the possible link lies in the vicinity of grid square L/63 in the main Sterkfontein excavation.

Reynolds, S. C.; Clarke, R. J. and Kuman, K. A (2007). The view from the Lincoln Cave:Mid-to Late Pleistocene fossil deposits from Sterkfontein hominid site, South Africa. Journal of Human Evolution Volume 53(3):260-271.

by Sally Reynolds

The Lincoln-Fault cave system lies adjacent to the Sterkfontein Cave system in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage... more The Lincoln-Fault cave system lies adjacent to the Sterkfontein Cave system in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, Gauteng Province, South Africa. Lincoln Cave contains a mid- to late Pleistocene fossiliferous deposit which has been dated using uranium series methods to between 252,600  35,600 and 115,300  7,700 years old. Although speleologists presumed that there was no connection between the Lincoln Cave and Sterkfontein Cave systems, results of excavations conducted in 1997 suggest a link between the deposits. Detailed comparisons of artifacts, fauna, hominid material, and a statistical correspondence analysis (CA) of the macromammalian fauna in the deposits strongly support this hypothesis. The recovery of Early Acheulean-type artifacts from the Lincoln Cave suggests that older artifacts eroded out of Sterkfontein Member 5 West and were redeposited into the younger Lincoln Cave deposits. The close physical proximity of these deposits, and the nature of the material recovered from them, indicates that the material was probably redeposited via a link between the two cave systems. Although faunal mixing is present, it is possible to say that large carnivorans become more scarce at Sterkfontein during the mid- to late Pleistocene, while small canids and felids appear to become more abundant, indicating that large and small carnivorans probably varied their use of the site through time. This may also reflect an increasing presence of humans in the Sterkfontein area during the mid- to late Pleistocene.

Reynolds, S. C. (2007b). Mammalian body size changes and Plio-Pleistocene environmental shifts: Implications for understanding hominin evolution in eastern and southern Africa. Journal of Human Evolution Volume 53(5):528-548.

by Sally Reynolds

This study examines geographic and temporal variation in three mammalian taxa co-occurring in eastern and southern... more This study examines geographic and temporal variation in three mammalian taxa co-occurring in eastern and southern Africa. The selected taxa- the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), the plains zebra (Equus burchellii), and the impala (Aepyceros melampus)-are geographically widespread in modern times and are abundant in eastern and southern African Plio-Pleistocene fossil sites. Craniodental measurements of modern conspecifics from known geographic locations are compared using multivariate statistical methods to discern patterns of modern geographic variation within taxa. Modern and fossil samples are statistically compared to assess the nature and extent of inferred shifts in body size, both between modern samples and through time in each region. These results indicate that modern spotted hyenas and plains zebras exhibit mainly size variation between regions, with southern African samples possessing statistically larger craniodental metrics than eastern African samples. Comparison of fossil and modern samples reveals that the fossil assemblages do not show the same pattern of geographic variation. Significant temporal changes are more numerous between fossil and modern eastern African samples, and these changes are not mirrored by similar changes in the southern African samples. The changes experienced by taxa in eastern Africa appear to have been more extreme and wide-ranging than those in southern Africa, a presumed refugium. This result accords well with genetic studies of several large mammal species and paleoenvironmental studies suggesting that eastern African localized environments were more affected by tectonism and volcanism than were those in southern Africa. This study suggests that different evolutionary scenarios may have existed within Africa during the Plio-Pleistocene, but that both regions played unique and complementary roles in the evolution of African hominins and the broader faunal community.

O’Regan, H. J. and Reynolds, S. C. (2009). An ecological reassessment of the southern African carnivore guild: a case study from Member 4, Sterkfontein, South Africa Journal of Human Evolution, Volume 572:212-222.

by Sally Reynolds

The southern African late Pliocene to early Pleistocene carnivore guild was much larger than that of the present day.... more The southern African late Pliocene to early Pleistocene carnivore guild was much larger than that of the present day. Understanding how this guild may have functioned is important for the reconstruction of carnivore-hominin interactions and to assess the potential for hominin scavenging in southern Africa. In modern ecosystems, the coexistence of larger carnivore species is constrained by several factors, which include high levels of interspecific competition. Here, the composition of the fossil carnivore guild is examined using Sterkfontein Member 4 (Cradle of Humankind, South Africa) as a case study. Sterkfontein
Member 4 contains 10 larger carnivore taxa (body mass > 21.5 kg) and may also contain two Australopithecus species. Two possible causes of higher numbers of carnivore species in the South African fossil record are initially considered. First, that there is a bias introduced through comparing assemblages of
differing sizes; second, carnivore biodiversity may have been artificially inflated due to previous taxonomic splitting of carnivore species, such as Crocuta. These possibilities are rejected and modern ecological data are used to construct a simple spatial model to determine how many carnivores could have co-existed. Although the resulting model indicates that the carnivore taxa present in Member 4 could have co-occurred, modern ecological studies indicate that it is highly unlikely that they would have co-existed simultaneously. Considering the complex depositional processes that operate in the southern African cave sites, it is proposed that the larger carnivore guild observed in the Sterkfontein Member 4 fossil assemblage is a palimpsest created by time-averaging. In light of this, we suggest that sites which
have a large number of carnivore taxa should be examined for time-averaging, while those sites which have relatively few species may be a better reflection of carnivore communities.

Reynolds, S.C. (2012). Nyctereutes terblanchei: The raccoon dog that never was. South African Journal of Science 2012;108(1/2), Art. #589, 10 pages

by Sally Reynolds

Fossils of the raccoon dog (genus Nyctereutes) are particularly rare in the African Plio-Pleistocene record, whilst... more Fossils of the raccoon dog (genus Nyctereutes) are particularly rare in the African Plio-Pleistocene record, whilst the sole living representative, Nyctereutes procyonoides, is found in eastern Asia and parts of Europe. In southern Africa, only one fossil species of raccoon dog has been identified – Nyctereutes terblanchei. N. terblanchei is recognised from a handful of Plio-Pleistocene sites in South Africa: Kromdraai, Kromdraai–Coopers and Sterkfontein in Gauteng, as well as Elandsfontein in the Western Cape Province. The validity of this species identification was questioned on the basis of the rarity of southern African fossils assigned to Nyctereutes, that is, fewer than 10 specimens have been identified as Nyctereutes. This study examined this fossil sample of the raccoon dog from the Gauteng sites and compared dental and cranial metrics of the fossil with samples of modern canids and published data. Morphological traits used to distinguish Nyctereutes, such as the pronounced subangular lobe on the mandible and the relatively large size of the lower molars, were observed to be variable in all samples. Analysis showed that the size of the dentition of the southern African fossil samples was larger than that of living raccoon dogs, but fell well within the range of that of African jackals. These results suggest that fossil Nyctereutes cannot be distinguished from other canid species based on metric data alone, and may only be diagnosable using combinations of non-metric traits of the dentition and skull. However, based on the degree of morphological variability of the traits used to diagnose Nyctereutes, as well as the rarity of this genus in the African fossil record, these fossils are more likely to belong to a species of jackal or fox.

Reynolds, S.C. and Kibii, J.M. (2011). Sterkfontein at 75: review of paleoenvironments, fauna and archaeology from the hominin site of Sterkfontein (Gauteng Province, South Africa). Palaeontologia africana 46: 59-88.

by Sally Reynolds

Seventy-five years after Robert Broom’s discovery of the first adult Australopithecus in 1936, the Sterkfontein Caves... more Seventy-five years after Robert Broom’s discovery of the first adult Australopithecus in 1936, the Sterkfontein Caves (Gauteng Province, South Africa) remains one of the richest and most informative fossil hominin sites in the world. The deposits record hominin and African mammal evolution from roughly 2.6 million years (Ma) until the Upper Pleistocene. Earlier excavation efforts focused on the Member 4 australopithecine-bearing breccia and the Member 5 stone tool-bearing breccias of Oldowan and Early Acheulean age. Ronald J. Clarke’s 1997 programme of understanding the cave deposits as a whole led to the discovery of the near-complete StW 573 Australopithecus skeleton in the Member 2 deposit of the Silberberg Grotto, and the exploration of lesser known deposits such as the Jacovec Cavern, Name Chamber and the Lincoln Cave. Our aim is to produce a cogent synthesis of the environments, palaeodietary information, fauna and stone artefacts as recorded in the Sterkfontein sequence. We begin with an overview of the site and early accounts of the interpretations of the site-formation processes, after which we discuss each Member in turn and summarize the various types of evidence published so far. Finally, we review the most pertinent debates about the site, including the ages of Sterkfontein Member 2 and 4, and the types of habitats represented at the site through time.

Bailey, G.N.; Reynolds, S.C. and King G. C. P. (2011). Landscapes of human evolution: models and methods of tectonic geomorphology and the reconstruction of hominin landscapes. Journal of Human Evolution. 60(3):257-280.

by Sally Reynolds

See accompanying paper Reynolds, Bailey and King (2011) for case studies of landscapes associated with Australopithecus in Africa

This paper examines the relationship between complex and tectonically active landscapes and patterns of human... more This paper examines the relationship between complex and tectonically active landscapes and patterns of human evolution. We show how active tectonics can produce dynamic landscapes with geomorphological and topographic features that may be critical to long-term patterns of hominin land use, but which are not typically addressed in landscape constructions based on existing geological and paleoenvironmental principles. We describe methods of representing topography at a range of scales
using measures of roughness based on digital elevation data, and combine the resulting maps with satellite imagery and ground observations to reconstruct features of the wider landscape as they existed at the time of hominin occupation and activity. We apply these methods to sites in South Africa, where relatively stable topography facilitates reconstruction. We demonstrate the presence of previously unrecognized tectonic effects and their implications for the interpretation of hominin habitats and land
use. In parts of the East African Rift, reconstruction is more difficult because of dramatic changes since the time of hominin occupation, while fossils are often found in places where activity has now almost ceased. However, we show that original, dynamic landscape features can be assessed by analogy with
parts of the Rift that are currently active and indicate how this approach can complement other sources of information to add new insights and pose new questions for future investigation of hominin land use and habitats.

Reynolds, S.C.; Bailey, G. and King G. C. P. (2011). Landscapes and their relation to hominin habitats: case studies from Australopithecus sites in eastern and southern Africa. Journal of Human Evolution 60(3):281-298.

by Sally Reynolds

See the accompanying paper by Bailey, Reynolds and Kind (2011) for more detail on the theoretical approaches to the study of landscapes and humans.

We examine the links between geomorphological processes, specific landscape features, surface water drainage, and the... more We examine the links between geomorphological processes, specific landscape features, surface water drainage, and the creation of suitable habitats for hominins. The existence of mosaic (i.e., heterogeneous) habitats within hominin site landscape reconstructions is typically explained using models of the riverine and gallery forest settings, or the pan or lake setting.We propose a different model: the Tectonic Landscape Model (TLM), where tectonic faulting and volcanism disrupts existing pan or river settings at small-scales (∼10e25 km). Our model encompasses the interpretation of the landscape features, the role of tectonics in creating these landscapes, and the implications for hominins. In particular, the model explains the underlying mechanism for the creation and maintenance of heterogeneous habitats in regions of active tectonics. We illustrate how areas with faulting and disturbed drainage patterns would have been attractive habitats for hominins, such as ustralopithecus, and other fauna. Wetland areas are an important characteristic of surface water disturbance by fault activity; herefore we examine the tectonically-controlled Okavango Delta (Botswana) and the Nylsvley wetland (South Africa) as modern
examples of how tectonics in a riverine setting significantly enhance the faunal and floral biodiversity. While tectonic landscapes may not have been the only type of attractive habitats to hominins, we propose a suite of landscape, faunal, and floral indicators, which when recovered together suggest that site environments may have been influenced by tectonic and/or volcanic activity while hominins were present. For the fossil sites, we interpret the faulting and landscapes around australopithecine-bearing sites of the Middle Awash (Ethiopia) and Makapansgat, Taung, and Sterkfontein (South Africa) to illustrate these relationships between landscape features and surface water bodies. Exploitation of tectonically active landscapes may explain why the paleoenvironmental signals, anatomy, diets, as well as the fauna associated with Australopithecus appear largely heterogeneous through time and space. This hypothesis is discussed in light of potential preservation and time-averaging effects which may affect patterns visible in the fossil record. The model, however, offers insight into the landscape processes of how such habitats are formed. The landscape features and range of habitat conditions, specifically the wetter, down-dropped plains and drier, uplifted flanks persist in close proximity for as long as the fault motion continues. The Tectonic Landscape Model provides an alternative explanation of why mixed habitats may be represented at certain sites over longer timescales.

Reynolds, S.C. (2010). Morphological evaluation of genetic evidence for a Pleistocene extirpation of eastern African impala. South African Journal of Science, 106(11-12). Article 325. DOI: 10.4102/sajs v106i11/12.325

by Sally Reynolds

Palaeontology typically relies on fossil studies, in particular morphological differences, to reconstruct and... more Palaeontology typically relies on fossil studies, in particular morphological differences, to reconstruct and interpret patterns of vertebrate evolution. However, genetic studies of population histories of extant species provide data about past population events (e.g. local extinctions, recolonisations) which are equally relevant to palaeontological questions. This study used morphological traits to evaluate a hypothesis based on genetic evidence that southern African impala (Aepyceros melampus) are the founder population for all other living African impala populations, after an eastern African extirpation event dating to around 200 000 years ago. Measurements of three horn metrics and the presence or absence of a particular dental trait were compared across four regional impala samples. Eastern African impala possess a unique combination of larger horns and a significantly higher occurrence of entostyles when compared to other impala populations. These traits are likely to have characterised a small group of founding impala which recolonised this region. This pattern appears consistent with the genetic evidence that a subset of the southern African impala gave rise to the eastern African populations. Other species with complex population histories, such as wildebeest, eland, topi and hartebeest may also therefore be expected to express variation in certain morphological traits in the fossil record because of similar patterns of recolonisations. The process of local extinction
and subsequent repopulation over shorter timescales (102 – 103 years) may pass unnoticed in the fossil record, and lineages may appear uninterrupted. Instead, greater morphological variation
within a species may be observed, which may be misinterpreted as reflecting a speciation event, or ecophenotypic variation. Combining data from genetic studies and palaeontology may provide further clues as to how faunal dispersals within Africa shaped the morphological variation in the fossil record, and how to best interpret such differences.

Sumatrah rhinoceros programme in Malaysia. 1988

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Observations on Bats in Three National Parks,Thailand. 2007.

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

pp5-20

Of the 263 species of mammals recorded from Thailand, Lekagul and McNeely (1977) list 35% from the order chiroptera,... more Of the 263 species of mammals recorded from Thailand, Lekagul and McNeely (1977) list 35% from the order chiroptera, 26% rodentia and 13 % carnivora. Biogeographically, Thailand lies in both the Sundaic and Indochinese subregions. The region south of the Isthmus of Kra (latitude 11o40’N) and peninsular Malaysia is considered as the Malayan faunal division, while the northern
part is within the Indochinese subregion (Corbet and Hill, 1992). This report presents the results of bat surveys conducted in protected areas in Thailand and also provides additional knowledge on the status of bats in certain areas. During the present survey, ecological observations were recorded for 57% of the individuals netted (comprising nine bat species) regarding their breeding status and development. About 28% of the total number of bats from seven species were at various stages of reproduction.

Key words: Bat biogeography, sympatric species, phenology.

Wild Elephant capture in Singapore.1992

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Large mammals of Bario, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. 1999

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD