In contrast to dominant mode of ecological transition in the evolution of marine mammals, different lineages of toothed whales (Odontoceti) have repeatedly invaded freshwater ecosystems during the Cenozoic era. The so-called “river dolphins” are now recognized as independent lineages that converged on similar morphological specializations (e.g., longirostry). In South America, the two endemic “...

A new taxon of stem otariid, Eotaria citrica sp. nov., is described from the upper Burdigalian to lower Langhian "Topanga" formation of Orange County, California. The new species is described from mandibular and dental remains that show a unique combination of plesiomorphic and derived characters. Specifically, it is characterized by having trenchant and prominent paraconid cusps in p3-m1, ling...

Modern felid species descend from relatively recent (<11 million years ago) divergence and speciation events that produced successful predatory carnivores worldwide but that have confounded taxonomic classifications. A highly resolved molecular phylogeny with divergence dates for all living cat species, derived from autosomal, X-linked, Y-linked, and mitochondrial gene segments (22,789 base pai...

late miocene–pliocene calc-alkaline volcanic rocks are exposed southeast of isfahan in the urumieh-dokhtar magmatic belt. volcanic rocks consist of lava flows and domes, chiefly basaltic andesites, andesites and dacites. minerals in the volcanic rocks exhibit degrees of disequilibrium features. plagioclase as dominant mineral in these rocks generally displays reverse and oscillatory zoning; sie...

In the present paper, we describe craniodental remains of three individuals an amphicyonid previously determined as Thaumastocyon sp. from late Miocene (c. 9.1?Ma) pseudokarstic site ...

This study provides an integrated view of the growth patterns and factors that controlled the evolution of the Gulf of Cadiz continental margin based on studies of the tectonic, sedimentologic and oceanographic history of the area. Seven sedimentary regimes are identified, but there are more extensive descriptions of the late Cenozoic regimes because of the larger data base. The regimes of the ...

During drilling of Leg 160 in the Eastern Mediterranean (April−May, 1995), Messinian (i.e., uppermost Miocene) facies were identified at a site at the base of the Cyprus slope (Site 968) and at two sites on the Eratosthenes Seamount (Sites 965 and 967). The new results can be compared with the recovery of Messinian evaporites from the Florence Rise west of Cyprus (Deep Sea Drilling Project Site...

We describe the remains of Rhinocerotidae from about 10 Late Miocene localities of Bulgaria, the main ones being Kalimantsi and Hadjidimovo, and the newly discovered site of Strumyani. At least seven species are represented, mostly by cranial elements. A skull is assigned to Chilotherium kiliasi, a species for which a new sub-genus, Eochilotherium, is established. Some fragmentary remains are r...

Introduction: We report the discovery of two tektites (Fig. 1A) collected in the vicinity of Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province (BPA), Argentina. The smaller tektite (T2) has an elongate, teardrop form ~2 mm long. The larger one (T1) appears to be a classic disc-shaped tektite ~2 mm in diameter. Both are black in reflected light and exhibit the grooved and pitted surface sculpting common to te...

Only one rodent specimen has been previously described from the late Hemphillian ZX Bar local fauna from Sioux County, Nebraska-the holotype of the heteromyid Perognathus coquorum Wood. A re-examination ofthis specimen has led to its allocation to the dipodomyine heteromyid genus Prodipodomys Hibbard. An additional specimen of a fossil rodent has been recognized from the ZX Bar fauna that is re...