Mammals of the Badlands By Christina Hurley. Badlands: Geologic History Started forming about 75...
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Transcript of Mammals of the Badlands By Christina Hurley. Badlands: Geologic History Started forming about 75...
Badlands:Badlands:Geologic HistoryGeologic History
Started forming about 75 million years ago Started forming about 75 million years ago
Are composed of 6 different formationsAre composed of 6 different formations Pierre ShalePierre Shale Yellow MoundsYellow Mounds Chadron FormationChadron Formation Brule FormationBrule Formation Rockyford AshRockyford Ash Sharps FormationSharps Formation
Pierre ShalePierre Shale
Deposited 69-75 mya by shallow inland Deposited 69-75 mya by shallow inland seasea
Black mud hardened to shaleBlack mud hardened to shale
Fossil clams, ammonites, and sea reptiles Fossil clams, ammonites, and sea reptiles have been foundhave been found
Yellow MoundsYellow Mounds
Weathered black ocean mudWeathered black ocean mud Had been exposed from formation of the Had been exposed from formation of the
Black HillsBlack Hills
Example of fossil soil (paleosol)Example of fossil soil (paleosol)
Chadron FormationChadron Formation
Deposited 34-37 myaDeposited 34-37 mya
River flood plainRiver flood plain New floods would make each depositNew floods would make each deposit
Known for titanotheres fossils (large, Known for titanotheres fossils (large, rhinoceros-like mammals)rhinoceros-like mammals)
Brule FormationBrule Formation
Deposited 30-34 myaDeposited 30-34 mya
Open savannahOpen savannah
Bands of sandstone show riversBands of sandstone show rivers
Red bands paleosolRed bands paleosol
Oreodonts (sheep-like animals) dominatedOreodonts (sheep-like animals) dominated
Rockyford AshRockyford Ash
Volcanic AshVolcanic Ash
Bottom layer of Sharps FormationBottom layer of Sharps Formation
Serves as a boundary between Sharps Serves as a boundary between Sharps and Brule Formationsand Brule Formations
Sharps FormationSharps Formation
28-30 million years old28-30 million years old
Deposited by wind and waterDeposited by wind and water
Volcanic eruptions from the west provided Volcanic eruptions from the west provided ashash
PaleontologyPaleontology
HyracodonHyracodon
SubhyracodonSubhyracodon
MetamynodonMetamynodon
Tapiroids ColodonTapiroids Colodon
ProtapirusProtapirus
MesohippusMesohippus
MiohippusMiohippus
ArchaeotheriumArchaeotherium
ProtocerasProtoceras
HyaenodonHyaenodon
PoebrotheriumPoebrotherium
OreodontOreodont
NimravidNimravid
HesperocyonHesperocyon
HesperocyonHesperocyon
““Mongoose-like mammal”Mongoose-like mammal”
One of the earliest Canidae family One of the earliest Canidae family membersmembers
Spent little time in the trees and hunted Spent little time in the trees and hunted mostly on the groundmostly on the ground
Had retractable claws to allow ground Had retractable claws to allow ground walking and climbing trees walking and climbing trees
“There once was a goose named Mon. He was a mongoose.” – Allison Moon
Mesohippus celerMesohippus celer
Means “middle horse”Means “middle horse”
Appeared suddenly Appeared suddenly (geologically (geologically speaking)speaking)
Preceding horses had Preceding horses had 4 toes, Mesohippus 4 toes, Mesohippus only had 3only had 3
Cerebral hemispheres Cerebral hemispheres notably largernotably larger Brain more distinctly Brain more distinctly
equineequine
Last 3 premolars are Last 3 premolars are like the 3 molarslike the 3 molars Like today’s horses Like today’s horses
have 6 grinding cheek have 6 grinding cheek teethteeth
Leptauchenia nitidaLeptauchenia nitida (Oreodont) (Oreodont)
Called “ruminants hogs”Called “ruminants hogs”
Have distinctive canine teethHave distinctive canine teeth
High set eyes and nostrils suggest aquatic High set eyes and nostrils suggest aquatic life-stylelife-style
Clawed toes indicate terrestrial habitatClawed toes indicate terrestrial habitat
Debated whether it is related to pigs or Debated whether it is related to pigs or sheepsheep It’s a SHIG!It’s a SHIG!
NimravidsNimravids
Are not saber-toothed cats, not even true Are not saber-toothed cats, not even true catscats
Illustrates parallel evolutionIllustrates parallel evolution
Differences are:Differences are: Paths of various nerve and blood vessels in Paths of various nerve and blood vessels in
skull are more primitiveskull are more primitive Lack a two-chambered auditory bullaLack a two-chambered auditory bulla Teeth are more coned shapedTeeth are more coned shaped
No modern relatives – truly extinctNo modern relatives – truly extinct
B - nimravid; A, C - felids; D - marsupial
Illustration of different evolution theories. Third being the most current.
ConclusionConclusion
Hesperocyon – brought dogs down from Hesperocyon – brought dogs down from the treesthe trees
Mesohippus celerMesohippus celer – 4 toes down to 3, – 4 toes down to 3, more equine like brainmore equine like brain
Oreodont – importance still unknownOreodont – importance still unknown
Nimravids – shows parallel evolutionNimravids – shows parallel evolution
ReferencesReferences
http://fossilmuseum.net/Fossil_Sites/badlands.htmlhttp://fossilmuseum.net/Fossil_Sites/badlands.htmlhttp://fossilmuseum.net/Fossil_Galleries/Mammalia/http://fossilmuseum.net/Fossil_Galleries/Mammalia/Oreodont/Oreodont.htmOreodont/Oreodont.htmhttp://talkorigins.org/faqs/horses/horse_evol.htmlhttp://talkorigins.org/faqs/horses/horse_evol.htmlhttp://laelaps.wordpress.com/2007/06/28/just-what-is-a-http://laelaps.wordpress.com/2007/06/28/just-what-is-a-nimravid-anyway/nimravid-anyway/http://www.nps.gov/badl/upload/07Newspaper.pdfhttp://www.nps.gov/badl/upload/07Newspaper.pdfWarren, Dean M.. Warren, Dean M.. Small Animal Care and ManagementSmall Animal Care and Management. . 2. Thomson Delmar Learning, 2002. 2. Thomson Delmar Learning, 2002.