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The “Homotherium” from Langebaanweg and the origin of Homotherium

2006; Volume: 227; Linguagem: Inglês

2509-8373

Lars Werdelin, Raffaele Sardella,

Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils

Craniodental and postcranial material from Langebaanweg, Cape Province, South Africa identified as or associated with Homotherium is described. Parts of this material have been described as the earliest Homotherium, but it is here concluded that the material shares no apomorphic traits with Homotherium and is better referred to Amphimachairodus sp, indet. The earliest Homotherium known to date comes from the Odessa Catacombs, Ukraine or the Lonyumun Member, Koobi Fora Formation, Kenya, both dated slightly older than 4 Ma. Despite suggestions to the contrary, there remains a substantial morphological gap between Homotherium and its progenitors.