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    • Fulltext

       

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      Permanent link:
      https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/jbsc/028/06/0765-0773

    • Keywords

       

      Early Pliocene; enamel hypoplasia; Langebaanweg; stable isotopes; weaning behaviour

    • Abstract

       

      A high prevalence of enamel hypoplasia in several herbivores from the early Pliocene Langebaanweg locality, South Africa, indicates general systemic stress during the growing years of life. The presence of several linear enamel hypoplasias per tooth crown in many teeth further suggest that these stress events may be episodic. The δ18O values along tooth crowns of mandibular second molars ofSivatherium hendeyi (Artiodactyla, Giraffidae) were used to investigate the cause of the stress events in this tooth type. Results show that weaning in this fossil giraffid occurred at a similar ontogenetic age to that in extant giraffes, and that the observed enamel hypoplasia towards the base of this tooth type manifested post-weaning. Further, high-resolution oxygen isotope analyses acrossS. hendeyi third molars suggest that the entire development of defective tooth crowns occurred under conditions of increased aridity in which the cool, rainy part of the seasonal cycle was missing. The high prevalence of this defect in many herbivores suggests that climatic conditions were not favourable. This study reiterates the value of stable isotope analyses in determining both the behaviour of fossil animals and the environmental conditions that prevailed during tooth development.

    • Author Affiliations

       

      Tamara A Franz-Odendaal1 2 Julia A Lee-Thorp3 Anusuya Chinsamy1

      1. Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag Rondebosch - 7701, South Africa
      2. Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia - B3H 4J1, Canada
      3. Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag Rondebosch - 7701, South Africa

    • Dates

       
      Published
      December 2003
      Manuscript received
      7 January 2003
      Accepted
      3 September 2003

  • Journal of Biosciences | News

      Forthcoming Special issue.


    • To trigger further research on plant mitochondria, the Journal of Biosciences is bringing out a special issue titled "Plant Mitochondria: Properties and Interactions with Other Organelles".


      Plant mitochondria are quite distinct and have unique features, such as a cyanide-insensitive alternate pathway. They also interact with chloroplasts to optimize photosynthetic carbon assimilation.


      Submissions are welcome until 30 July 2023. The contributions can be original articles, short communications, reviews, or mini-reviews on any topic related to plant mitochondria.


      Authors can submit their articles online at https://www.editorialmanager.com/jbsc/default2.aspx

      Posted on April 12, 2023
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