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Chapter 4 - The Pliocene

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 April 2019

D. Margaret Avery
Affiliation:
Iziko Museums of South Africa

Summary

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019
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4.1 Pliocene Mammals

By the Pliocene, all Orders were extant and only four extinct families remained, two in the Proboscidea and one each in the Carnivora and the Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates). However, at lower taxonomic ranks, there remained a high proportion of extinct taxa, e.g. 50 per cent of genera and 69 per cent of species in the Carnivora, and 47 per cent and 73 per cent respectively in the Artiodactyla (see Table 7.1). The Tubulidentata (aardvarks) and Soricomorpha were not represented and the number of Rodentia families was at its lowest level. Conversely, the number of Carnivora families increased to seven, its highest at any time, making it the most diverse Order during the epoch. The number of genera rose to 28 and species more than trebled compared to the Miocene, while the number of Artiodactyla genera was double that in the Miocene. Although there were fewer Rodentia families, those present contained far fewer extinct genera, and more species overall.

ORDER: AFROSORICIDA

Suborder: Chrysochloridea

FAMILY: CHRYSOCHLORIDAE

Subfamily: Chrysochlorinae

†Chrysochloris arenosa Asher and Avery, Reference Asher and Avery2010. Palaeontol. Electr. 13(1)3A: 5.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
†Chrysochloris bronneri Asher and Avery, Reference Asher and Avery2010. Palaeontol. Electr. 13(1)3A: 8.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.

Subfamily: Amblysomyinae

†Amblysomus hamiltoni De Graaff, Reference De Graaff1958. Palaeontol. Afr. 5: 22.
Synonyms: Chrysosticha.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat dumps.

ORDER: MACROSCELIDEA

FAMILY: MACROSCELIDIDAE

Subfamily: Macroscelidinae

†Elephantulus antiquus Broom, 1948. Ann. Transvaal Mus. 21(1): 5.
Type locality: Bolt’s Farm.
Additional references: Patterson (Reference Patterson1965).
Elephantulus brachyrhynchus Smith, Reference Smith1836. Report of the Expedition for Exploring Central Africa: 42. Short-snouted elephant shrew.
Synonyms: Macroscelides.
Type locality: Kuruman to southern Botswana.
Additional references: Smith (Reference Smith1849).
†Elephantulus broomi Corbet and Hanks, Reference Corbet and Hanks1968. Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. Zool. 16: 54.
Synonyms: Elephantomys langi.
Type locality: Schurveberg.
Elephantulus fuscus Peters, Reference Peters1851. Reise nach Mossambique, Säugethiere: 87. Dusky elephant shrew.
Type locality: Boror.
Macroscelides proboscideus Shaw, Reference Shaw1800. Gen. Zool. Syst. Nat. Hist. 1(2) Mammalia: 536. Short-eared elephant shrew.
Synonyms: typicus.
Additional references: Roberts (Reference Roberts1933, Reference Roberts1938).
†Palaeothentoides africanus Stromer, Reference Stromer1931. Sitzungsber. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. München. Math.-Nat. Abt. 1931: 185.
Type locality: Kleinzee.
Additional references: Holroyd (Reference Holroyd, Werdelin and Sanders2010a); Patterson (Reference Patterson1965).

Subfamily: Mylomygalinae

†Mylomygale spiersi Broom, 1948. Ann. Transvaal Mus. 21(1): 8.
Type locality: Taung.
Additional references: Holroyd (Reference Holroyd, Werdelin and Sanders2010a); Patterson (Reference Patterson1965).

ORDER: HYRACOIDEA

FAMILY: PROCAVIIDAE

†Gigantohyrax maguirei Kitching, Reference Kitching1965. Palaeontol. Afr. 9: 91.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Additional references: Rasmussen and Gutiérrez (Reference Rasmussen, Gutiérrez, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
†Procavia antiqua Broom, Reference Broom1934. S. Afr. J. Sci. 31: 472.
Synonyms: Prohyrax; robertsi.
Type locality: Taung.
Additional references: Broom (Reference Broom1948a); Churcher (Reference Churcher1956); McMahon and Thackeray (Reference McMahon and Thackeray1994); Rasmussen and Gutiérrez (Reference Rasmussen, Gutiérrez, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Schwartz (Reference Schwartz1997).
†Procavia pliocenica Pickford, Reference Pickford2005. Palaeontol. Afr. 41: 142.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
†Procavia transvaalensis Shaw, Reference Shaw1937. J. Dental Res. 16: 40.
Synonyms: obermeyerae.
Type locality: Taung.
Additional references: Churcher (Reference Churcher1956); McMahon and Thackeray (Reference McMahon and Thackeray1994).

ORDER: PROBOSCIDEA

FAMILY: †DEINOTHERIIDAE

Subfamily: †Deinotheriinae

†Prodeinotherium hobleyi Andrews, Reference Andrews1911. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1911: 944.
Synonyms: Deinotherium; Dinotherium.
Additional references: Éhik (Reference Éhik1930); Harris (Reference Harris1977); Sanders et al. (Reference Sanders, Gheerbrandt, Harris, Saegusa, Delmer, Werdelin and Sanders2010a).

FAMILY: ELEPHANTIDAE

Subfamily: Elephantinae

Elephas Linnaeus, Reference Linnaeus1758. Systema Naturae Regnum Animale, 10th edition, 1: 33.
Synonyms: Archidiskodon; Palaeoloxodon.
Additional references: Cooke (Reference Cooke1961); Todd (Reference Todd2010).
†Loxodonta cookei Sanders, Reference Sanders2007. Trans. R. Soc. S. Afr. 62(1): 7.
Synonyms: Lukeino Stage.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Pickford and Senut (Reference Pickford and Senut1997); Sanders et al. (Reference Sanders, Gheerbrandt, Harris, Saegusa, Delmer, Werdelin and Sanders2010a); Todd (Reference Todd2010).
†Mammuthus subplanifrons Osborn, Reference Osborn1928. Nature 121: 672–673.
Synonyms: Archidiskodon; Elephas; Mastodon; Stegodon; andrewsi; milletti; proplanifrons; scotti; vanalpheni.
Type locality: Sydney-on-Vaal.
Additional references: Dart (Reference Dart1929b); Maglio and Hendey (Reference Maglio and Hendey1970); Meiring (Reference Meiring1955); Osborn (Reference Osborn1934, Reference Osborn1942); Sanders (Reference Sanders2007); Sanders et al. (Reference Sanders, Gheerbrandt, Harris, Saegusa, Delmer, Werdelin and Sanders2010a); Todd (Reference Todd2010).

FAMILY: †GOMPHOTHERIIDAE

Subfamily: †Anancinae

†Anancus capensis Sanders, Reference Sanders2007. Trans. R. Soc. S. Afr. 62(1): 1.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Sanders et al. (Reference Sanders, Gheerbrandt, Harris, Saegusa, Delmer, Werdelin and Sanders2010a).

ORDER: PRIMATES

Suborder: Haplorrhini

FAMILY: CERCOPITHECIDAE

Subfamily: Cercopithecinae

Cercocebus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Reference Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire1812. Ann Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 19: 97.
Additional references: Jablonsky and Frost (Reference Jablonsky, Frost, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
†Dinopithecus ingens Broom, 1937. S. Afr. J. Sci. 33: 753.
Synonyms: Papio.
Type locality: Schurveberg.
Additional references: Freedman and Brain (Reference Freedman and Brain1977); Gilbert (Reference Gilbert2013); Gommery and Bento da Costa (Reference Gommery and Bento da Costa2016); Jablonsky and Frost (Reference Jablonsky, Frost, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
†Papio izodi Gear, Reference Gear1926. S. Afr. J. Sci. 23: 746.
Synonyms: Gorgopithecus; Parapapio; angusticeps; wellsi.
Type locality: Taung.
Additional references: Adams et al. (Reference Adams, Kegley and Krigbaum2013); Cooke (Reference Cooke and Sperber1990); Freedman (Reference Freedman1965); Gilbert (Reference Gilbert2013); Gilbert et al. (Reference Gilbert, Steininger, Kibii and Berger2015); Gilbert et al. (Reference Gilbert, Takahashi and Delson2016b); Heaton (Reference Heaton2006); Jablonsky and Frost (Reference Jablonsky, Frost, Werdelin and Sanders2010); McKee (Reference McKee1993b); McKee and Keyser (Reference McKee and Keyser1994).
Comments: known material from Kromdraai is referred to Papio (hamadryas) angusticeps and a new specimen to Papio hamadryas ssp. indet. by Singleton et al. (Reference Singleton, Gilbert, Frost and Seitelman2016).
†Parapapio Jones, Reference Jones1937. S. Afr. J. Sci. 33: 726.
Type locality: Sterkfontein.
Additional references: Grine and Hendey (Reference Grine and Hendey1981); Jablonsky and Frost (Reference Jablonsky, Frost, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
†Parapapio broomi Jones, Reference Jones1937. S. Afr. J. Sci. 33: 727.
Synonyms: Brachygnathopithecus peppercorni; Gorgopithecus; makapani.
Type locality: Sterkfontein.
Additional references: Freedman (Reference Freedman1965, Reference Freedman1976); Freedman and Stenhouse (Reference Freedman and Stenhouse1972); Gilbert (Reference Gilbert2013); Gommery and Bento da Costa (Reference Gommery and Bento da Costa2016); Heaton (Reference Heaton2006); Jablonsky and Frost (Reference Jablonsky, Frost, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Maier (Reference Maier1970); Thackeray and Myer (Reference Thackeray and Myer2004).
†Parapapio jonesi Broom, Reference Broom1940. Ann. Transvaal Mus. 20: 93.
Type locality: Sterkfontein.
Additional references: Freedman and Brain (Reference Freedman and Brain1977); Freedman and Stenhouse (Reference Freedman and Stenhouse1972); Gilbert (Reference Gilbert2013); Heaton (Reference Heaton2006); Jablonsky and Frost (Reference Jablonsky, Frost, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Maier (Reference Maier1970); Thackeray and Myer (Reference Thackeray and Myer2004).
†Parapapio whitei Broom, Reference Broom1940. Ann. Transvaal Mus. 20: 90.
Type locality: Sterkfontein.
Additional references: Freedman (Reference Freedman1965); Freedman and Stenhouse (Reference Freedman and Stenhouse1972); Gilbert (Reference Gilbert2013); Heaton (Reference Heaton2006); Jablonsky and Frost (Reference Jablonsky, Frost, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Maier (Reference Maier1970).
†Procercocebus antiquus Haughton, Reference Haughton1924. Trans. R. Soc. S. Afr. 12: lxviii.
Synonyms: Gorgopithecus; Papio; Parapapio.
Type locality: Taung.
Additional references: Cooke (Reference Cooke and Sperber1990); Freedman (Reference Freedman1965, Reference Freedman1976); Gilbert (Reference Gilbert2007a, Reference Gilbert2013); Gilbert et al. (Reference Gilbert, Takahashi and Delson2016b); Gommery and Bento da Costa (Reference Gommery and Bento da Costa2016); Heaton (Reference Heaton2006); Maier (Reference Maier1971).
†Theropithecus darti Broom and Jensen, Reference Broom and Jensen1946. Ann. Transvaal Mus. 20: 340.
Synonyms: Papio; Simopithecus.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Additional references: Gilbert (Reference Gilbert2013); Jablonsky and Frost (Reference Jablonsky, Frost, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Maier (Reference Maier1970, Reference Maier1972).
Comments: Gilbert (Reference Gilbert2013) accepts the case for making this species a subspecies of T. oswaldi though Gommery and Bento da Costa (Reference Gommery and Bento da Costa2016) continue to consider it a full species.
†Theropithecus oswaldi Andrews, Reference Andrews1916. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Series 8, 18: 417.
Synonyms: Parapapio coronatus?; Simopithecus; danieli; leakeyi.
Additional references: Broom and Robinson (Reference Broom and Robinson1948); Dechow and Singer (Reference Dechow and Singer1984); Freedman (Reference Freedman1957, Reference Freedman1976); Freedman and Brain (Reference Freedman and Brain1977); Frost et al. (Reference Frost, Saanane and Starkovich2017); Gilbert (Reference Gilbert2007b, Reference Gilbert2013); Heaton (Reference Heaton2006); Hopwood (Reference Hopwood1934); Jablonsky and Frost (Reference Jablonsky, Frost, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Leakey (Reference Leakey1943a).

Subfamily: Colobinae

†Cercopithecoides williamsi Mollett, Reference Mollett1947. S. Afr. J. Sci. 43: 298.
Synonyms: molletti.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Additional references: Freedman (Reference Freedman1961, Reference Freedman1965); Freedman and Brain (Reference Freedman and Brain1977); Gommery and Bento da Costa (Reference Gommery and Bento da Costa2016); Jablonsky and Frost (Reference Jablonsky, Frost, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Kuykendall and Rae (Reference Kuykendall and Rae2008); Maier (Reference Maier1970); Von Mayer (Reference Von Mayer1998).

FAMILY: HOMINIDAE

Subfamily: Homininae

†Australopithecus Dart, Reference Dart1925. Nature 114: 195–199.
Type locality: Taung.
Additional references: Clarke (Reference Clarke1999, Reference Clarke2002, Reference Clarke2008).
†Australopithecus africanus Dart, Reference Dart1925. Nature 114: 195–199.
Synonyms: Plesianthropus; prometheus; transvaalensis.
Type locality: Taung.
Additional references: Broom (Reference Broom1929, Reference Broom1939a); Broom and Robinson (Reference Broom and Robinson1949a, Reference Broom and Robinson1949c); Clarke and Tobias (Reference Clarke and Tobias1995); Dart (Reference Dart1929a, Reference Dart1948a, Reference Dart1954, Reference Dart1959); Häusler and Berger (Reference Häusler and Berger2001); Lockwood and Tobias (Reference Lockwood and Tobias1999, Reference Lockwood and Tobias2002); MacLatchy et al. (Reference MacLatchy, DeSilva, Sanders, Wood, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Toussaint et al. (Reference Toussaint, Macho, Tobias, Partridge and Hughes2003).

ORDER: RODENTIA

Suborder: Myomorpha

FAMILY: NESOMYIDAE

Subfamily: Delanymyinae

†Stenodontomys darti Lavocat, Reference Lavocat1956. Palaeontol. Afr. 4: 71.
Synonyms: Mystromys.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
†Stenodontomys saldanhae Pocock, Reference Pocock1987. Palaeontol. Afr. 26(7): 89.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Denys (Reference Denys1994b).

Subfamily: Dendromurinae

†Dendromus antiquus Broom, Reference Broom1946. Mem. Transvaal Mus. 2: 29.
Type locality: Taung.
Comments: originally named by Broom (Reference Broom1946) but not formally described according to De Graaff (Reference De Graaff1961a).
†Dendromus averyi Denys, Reference Denys1994. Palaeovertebrata 23(1–4): 163.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
†Dendromus darti Denys, Reference Denys1994. Palaeovertebrata 23(1–4): 163.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Dendromus mesomelas Brants, Reference Brants1827. Het Geslacht der Muizen door Linnaeus Opgesteld: 122. Brants’ African climbing mouse.
Synonyms: ayresi; typica.
Type locality: Sunday’s River, east of Port Elizabeth.
Additional references: Smith (Reference Smith1849).
†Malacothrix makapani De Graaff, 1961. Palaeontol. Afr. 7: 86.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Malacothrix typica Smith, Reference Smith1834. S. Afr. Quart. J., Series 2, 2: 148. Large-eared African desert mouse.
Type locality: Graaff Reinet District.
Additional references: Roberts (Reference Roberts1932).
Steatomys pratensis Peters, Reference Peters1846. Bericht Verhandl. K. Preuss. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 11: 258. Common African fat mouse.
Synonyms: natalensis; opimus.
Type locality: Tete.
Comments: material from Botswana was identified as Steatomys opimus but, as currently understood, this species is almost entirely confined to West Africa (Musser and Carleton Reference Musser, Carleton, Wilson and Reeder2005).

Subfamily: Mystromyinae

Mystromys albicaudatus Smith, Reference Smith1834. S. Afr. Quart. J., Series 2, 2: 148. African white-tailed rat.
Synonyms: Otomys; antiquus.
Type locality: Albany District.
Additional references: De Winton (Reference De Winton1898); Grubb (Reference Grubb2004); Smith (Reference Smith1849).
†Mystromys hausleitneri Broom, 1937. S. Afr. J. Sci. 33: 766.
Synonyms: hauslichtneri.
Type locality: Schurveberg.
Additional references: Broom (Reference Broom1948a).
†Mystromys pocockei Denys, Reference Denys1991. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Série IIa, 313: 1337.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
†Proodontomys cookei Pocock, Reference Pocock1987. Palaeontol. Afr. 26(7): 82.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.

FAMILY: MURIDAE

Subfamily: Deomyinae

Acomys Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Reference Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire1838. Ann. Sci. Nat. Zool. Paris, Series 2, 10: 126.
Additional references: Chevret et al. (Reference Chevret, Denys, Jaeger, Michaux and Catzeflis1993a); Dippenaar and Rautenbach (Reference Dippenaar and Rautenbach1986).
†Acomys mabele Denys, 1990. Palaeontographica Abt. A 210(1–3): 82.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Acomys spinosissimus Peters, Reference Peters1852. Naturwissenschaftliche Reise nach Mossambique: 160. Southern African spiny mouse.
Synonyms: Cahirinus selousi; transvaalensis.
Type locality: Tete and Buio.
Additional references: Dippenaar and Rautenbach (Reference Dippenaar and Rautenbach1986).

Subfamily: Gerbillinae

Desmodillus Thomas and Schwann, Reference Thomas and Schwann1904. Abstr. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1904(2): 6.
Synonyms: Gerbillus; Pachyuromys.
Additional references: Pavlinov (Reference Pavlinov, Denys, Granjon and Poulet2001).
Desmodillus auricularis Smith, Reference Smith1834. S. Afr. Quart. J., Series 2, 2: 160. Short-eared gerbil.
Synonyms: Gerbillus; brevicaudatus.
Type locality: Kamiesberg.
Additional references: Griffin (Reference Griffin and Seeley1990); Qumsiyeh (Reference Qumsiyeh1986); Smith (Reference Smith1849).
†Desmodillus magnus Denys and Matthews, Reference Denys and Matthews2017. Palaeovertebrata 41(1): e1–5.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Gerbilliscus Thomas, Reference Thomas1897. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1897: 433.
Synonyms: Gerbillus; Tatera.
Gerbilliscus brantsii Smith, Reference Smith1836. Report of the Expedition for Exploring Central Africa: 43. Highveld gerbil.
Synonyms: Gerbillus; Tatera; montanus.
Type locality: Ladybrand.
Additional references: Davis (Reference Davis1949, Reference Davis1965); Griffin (Reference Griffin and Seeley1990); Qumsiyeh (Reference Qumsiyeh1986); Roberts (Reference Roberts1926); Smith (Reference Smith1849).

Subfamily: Murinae

†Aethomys adamanticola Denys, Reference Denys1990. Ann. Paleontol. 76(1): 45.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Matthews and Stynder (Reference Matthews and Stynder2011a).
†Aethomys modernis Denys, Reference Denys1990. Ann. Paleontol. 76(1): 52.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Matthews and Stynder (Reference Matthews and Stynder2011a).
Dasymys incomtus Sundevall, Reference Sundevall1846. Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar 3: 120. Common dasymys.
Type locality: Durban.
Additional references: Gordon (Reference Gordon1991); Mullin et al. (Reference Mullin, Pillay and Taylor2004).
Comments: much of the material identified as D. incomtus was identified at a time when this species was the only one recognised in southern Africa. For this reason, this material should be considered as D. incomtus sensu lato until such time as it is re-examined.
†Dasymys ‘lavocati’ Broom, unpublished.
Type locality: Bolt’s Farm.
Comments: Nomen nudum.
Grammomys dolichurus Smuts, Reference Smuts1832. Dissertation Zoologica, Ennumerationem Mammalium Capensium: 38. Common grammomys.
Synonyms: Thamnomys.
Type locality: near Cape Town.
Additional references: Roberts (Reference Roberts1931).
Lemniscomys Troussaert, Reference Troussaert1881. Bull. Soc. Etudes Sci. Angers 10: 124.
Mastomys natalensis Smith, Reference Smith1834. S. Afr. Quart. J., Series 2, 2: 146. Natal mastomys.
Synonyms: Praomys.
Type locality: Port Natal = Durban.
Additional references: Bronner et al. (Reference Bronner, Van der Merwe and Njobe2007); Dippenaar et al. (Reference Dippenaar, Swanepoel and Gordon1993); Green et al. (Reference Green, Keogh, Gordon, Pinto and Hartwig1980); Smit and Van der Bank (Reference Smit and Van der Bank2001); Smith (Reference Smith1849).
Comments: this material was identified as M. natalensis at a time when M. coucha was not recognised as a separate species.
Micaelamys namaquensis Smith, Reference Smith1834. S. Afr. Quart. J., Series 2, 2: 160. Namaqua micaelamys.
Synonyms: Aethomys; lehocla.
Type locality: Cape of Good Hope: restricted to Witwater.
Additional references: Chimimba (Reference Chimimba2001); Chimimba and Dippenaar (Reference Chimimba and Dippenaar1994); Roberts (Reference Roberts1926, Reference Roberts1946); Russo (Reference Russo2009); Smith (Reference Smith1849); Visser and Robinson (Reference Visser and Robinson1986).
Mus minutoides Smith, Reference Smith1834. S. Afr. Quart. J., Series 2, 2: 147. Southern African pygmy mouse.
Synonyms: Leggada.
Type locality: Cape Town.
Additional references: Britton-Davidian et al. (Reference Britton-Davidian, Robinson and Veyrunes2012).
Comments: some of the specimens from the more arid areas may be M. indutus, but see comment under that species.
Myomyscus Shortridge, Reference Shortridge1942. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 36: 93.
Synonyms: Praomys; Myomys.
Type locality: Kliphuis.
Pelomys fallax Peters, Reference Peters1852. Bericht Verhandl. K. Preuss. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 17: 275. East African pelomys.
Type locality: Caia District.
Rhabdomys Thomas, Reference Thomas1916. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Series 8, 18: 69.
Rhabdomys pumilio Sparrman, Reference Sparrman1784. K. Svenska Vet.-Akad. Handl.: 236. Xeric four-striped grass rat.
Type locality: Slangrivier, east of Knysna.
Additional references: Castiglia et al. (Reference Castiglia, Solano and Makundi2012); Le Grange et al. (Reference Le Grange, Bastos, Brettschneider and Chimimba2015); Roberts (Reference Roberts1946); Smith (Reference Smith1849); Wroughton (Reference Wroughton1905).
Comments: samples recorded here should be regarded as belonging to Rhabdomys pumilio sensu lato and are very likely to include some material that would currently be regarded as R. dilectus.
Thallomys Thomas, Reference Thomas1920. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Series 9, 5: 141.
†Thallomys debruyni Broom, Reference Broom and Robinson1948. Ann. Transvaal Mus. 21: 35.
Type locality: Taung Hrdlicka’s Cave.
Zelotomys Osgood, Reference Osgood1910. Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Publ. Zool. Ser. 10: 7.

Subfamily: †Myocricetodontinae

†Boltimys broomi Sénégas and Michaux, Reference Sénégas and Michaux2000. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Sci. Terre Plan. 330: 522.
Type locality: Waypoint 160.

Subfamily: Otomyinae

†Euryotomys bolti Sénégas and Avery, Reference Sénégas and Avery1998. S. Afr. J. Sci. 94: 503.
Type locality: Waypoint 160.
Additional references: Sénégas (Reference Sénégas, Denys, Granjon and Poulet2001).
†Euryotomys pelomyoides Pocock, Reference Pocock1976. S. Afr. J. Sci. 72: 58.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Denys et al. (Reference Denys, Michaux and Hendey1987).
†Myotomys campbelli Broom and Schepers, Reference Broom and Schepers1946. Transvl Mus. Mem. 2: 29.
Type locality: Taung.
Myotomys sloggetti Thomas, Reference Thomas1902. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Series 7, 10: 311. Rock karoo rat.
Synonyms: Otomys.
Type locality: Deelfontein.
Comments: it seems unlikely that the Pliocene record is correct.
Additional references: Taylor et al. (Reference Taylor, Denys and Mukerjee2004).
†Otomys gracilis Broom, 1937. S. Afr. J. Sci. 33: 761.
Synonyms: Palaeotomys.
Type locality: Schurveberg.

Suborder: Anomaluromorpha

FAMILY: PEDETIDAE

Pedetes capensis Forster, Reference Forster1778. K. Svenska Vet.-Akad. Handl. 39: 109. South African spring hare.
Type locality: Cape of Good Hope.
Additional references: Roberts (Reference Roberts1946).
†Pedetes gracilis Broom, Reference Broom1934. S. Afr. J. Sci. 31: 476.
Type locality: Taung.
Additional references: Pickford and Mein (Reference Pickford and Mein2011).
†Propedetes efeldensis Mein and Pickford, 2008. Geol. Surv. Namibia Mem. 20: 242.
Type locality: Elisabethfeld.
†Propedetes laetoliensis Davies, Reference Davies, Leakey and Harris1987. In: Leakey and Harris. The Pliocene Site of Laetoli, Northern Tanzania: 172.
Synonyms: Pedetes.
Additional references: Pickford and Mein (Reference Pickford and Mein2011).

Suborder: Hystricomorpha

FAMILY: BATHYERGIDAE

Subfamily: Bathyerginae

†Bathyergus hendeyi Denys, Reference Denys1998. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 105(5): 268.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
†Cryptomys broomi Denys, Reference Denys1998. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 105(5): 280.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Cryptomys hottentotus Lesson, Reference Lesson1826. Zool. 1: 166. Southern African mole-rat.
Type locality: near Paarl.
Additional references: Avery (Reference Avery2004); Denys (Reference Denys1988a); Roberts (Reference Roberts1913, Reference Roberts1946).
Comments: it is possible that some of the material may be referable to Fukomys damarensis, which was not recognised as a separate species when many of the samples were identified.
†Cryptomys robertsi Broom, 1937. S. Afr. J. Sci. 33: 760.
Type locality: Schurveberg.
Comments: it has been suggested that this taxon is inseparable from Georychus capensis (Avery, Reference Avery1998).
†Gypsorhychus darti Broom, Reference Broom1934. S. Afr. J. Sci. 31: 474.
Type locality: Taung.
†Gypsorhychus makapani Broom, Reference Broom1948. Ann. Transvaal Mus. 21: 49.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
†Gypsorhychus minor Broom, Reference Broom1948. Ann. Transvaal Mus. 21: 48.
Type locality: Taung.
Heterocephalus Rüppell, Reference Rüppell1842. Mus. Senckenbergianum 3(2): 99.

FAMILY: HYSTRICIDAE

Subfamily: Hystricinae

Hystrix africaeaustralis Peters, Reference Peters1852. Naturwissenschaftliche Reise nach Mossambique: 170. Cape porcupine.
Additional references: Maguire (Reference Maguire1976).
†Hystrix makapanensis Greenwood, Reference Greenwood1958. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 13: 365.
Synonyms: major.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Additional references: Adams (Reference Adams2012a); Greenwood (Reference Greenwood1955).
†Xenohystrix crassidens Greenwood, Reference Greenwood1955. Palaeontol. Afr. 3: 81.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Additional references: Collings et al. (Reference Collings, Cruickshank, Maguire and Randall1976).

FAMILY: PETROMURIDAE

†Petromus antiquus Sénégas, Reference Sénégas2004. J. Vert. Paleontol. 24(3): 757.
Type locality: Waypoint 160.
†Petromus minor Broom, 1939. Ann. Transvaal Mus. 19: 316.
Synonyms: Palaepetromys.
Type locality: Taung.

ORDER: LAGOMORPHA

FAMILY: LEPORIDAE

Lepus Linnaeus, Reference Linnaeus1758. Systema Naturae Regnum Animale, 10th edition, 1: 57.
Additional references: Robinson and Dippenaar (Reference Robinson and Dippenaar1987); Robinson and Matthee (Reference Robinson and Matthee2005).
Lepus capensis Linnaeus, Reference Linnaeus1758. Systema Naturae Regnum Animale, 10th edition, 1: 58. Cape hare.
Type locality: Cape of Good Hope.
Additional references: Roberts (Reference Roberts1932).
Pronolagus Lyon, Reference Lyon1904. Smithson. Misc. Coll. 45: 416.
Additional references: Robinson and Matthee (Reference Robinson and Matthee2005).

ORDER: SORICOMORPHA

FAMILY: SORICIDAE

Subfamily: Crocidurinae

Crocidura fuscomurina Heuglin, Reference Heuglin1865. Nouv. Acta Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. 32: 36. Bicolored musk shrew.
Synonyms: bicolor.
Additional references: Hutterer (Reference Hutterer1983).
†Crocidura taungensis Broom, Reference Broom and Robinson1948. Ann. Transvaal Mus. 21: 10.
Synonyms: Suncus.
Type locality: Taung.
Additional references: Meester (Reference Meester1954).
†Diplomesodon fossorius Repenning, Reference Repenning1965. J. Mammal. 46(2): 190.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Suncus infinitesimus Heller, Reference Heller1912. Smithson. Misc. Coll. 60(12): 5. Least dwarf shrew.
Suncus varilla Thomas, Reference Thomas1895. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Series 6, 16: 54. Lesser dwarf shrew.
Type locality: East London.
Additional references: Roberts (Reference Roberts1946).

Subfamily: Myosoricinae

†Myosorex robinsoni Meester, Reference Meester1954. Ann. Transvaal Mus. 22: 272.
Type locality: Swartkrans.
Additional references: Butler (Reference Butler, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Butler and Greenwood (Reference Butler and Greenwood1979).
Myosorex varius Smuts, Reference Smuts1832. Dissertation Zoologica, Ennumerationem Mammalium Capensium: 108. Forest shrew.
Synonyms: Sorex.
Type locality: Algoa Bay: Port Elizabeth.
Additional references: Roberts (Reference Roberts1924); Smith (Reference Smith1849).

ORDER: CHIROPTERA

Suborder: Microchiroptera

FAMILY: RHINOLOPHIDAE

Rhinolophus capensis Lichtenstein, Reference Lichtenstein1823. Verzeichniss der Doubletten des zoologischen Museums der Königl. Universität zu Berlin: 4. Cape horseshoe bat.
Type locality: Cape of Good Hope.
Rhinolophus clivosus Cretzschmar, Reference Cretzschmar1826. In: Rüppell, Atlas zu der Reise im nördlichen Afrika Zoologie: 47. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire’s horseshoe bat.
Synonyms: geoffroyi.
Rhinolophus darlingi Andersen, Reference Andersen1905. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Series 7, 15: 70. Darling’s horseshoe bat.
Type locality: Mazoe.

FAMILY: VESPERTILIONIDAE

Subfamily: Vespertilioninae

Eptesicus hottentotus Smith, Reference Smith1833. S. Afr. Quart. J., Series 2, 1: 59. Long-tailed serotine.
Type locality: Uitenhage.
Additional references: Hill and Harrison (Reference Hill and Harrison1987); Kearney et al. (Reference Kearney, Volleth, Contrafatto and Taylor2002).

Subfamily: Miniopterinae

Miniopterus Bonaparte, 1837. Iconografia della fauna italica: 20.
Additional references: Miller-Butterworth et al. (Reference Miller-Butterworth, Murphy and O’Brien2007).

ORDER: PHOLIDOTA

FAMILY: MANIDAE

Subfamily: Smutsiinae

†Smutsia gigantea Illiger, Reference Illiger1815. Abh. Phys. Klasse K. Pruess Konigl. Akad. Wiss. 1804–1811: 84.
Synonyms: Manis.
Additional references: Botha and Gaudin (Reference Botha and Gaudin2007); Gaudin (Reference Gaudin, Werdelin and Sanders2010).

ORDER: CARNIVORA

Suborder: Feliformia

FAMILY: FELIDAE

†Amphimachairodus Kretzoi, Reference Kretzoi1929. 10th International Congress of Zoology: 1316.
Synonyms: Homotherium; Machairodus.
Additional references: Sardella and Werdelin (Reference Sardella and Werdelin2007); Werdelin and Peigné (Reference Werdelin, Peigné, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Werdelin and Sardella (Reference Werdelin and Sardella2006).

Subfamily: Felinae

Acinonyx Brookes, Reference Brookes1828. A Catalogue of the Anatomical & Zoological Museums of Joshua Brookes, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S. etc. Part 1: 16, 33.
Caracal caracal Schreber, 1776. Die Säugethiere 3 (16): pl. 110 [1776], see also text 3 (24): 413, 587 [1777]. Caracal.
Synonyms: Felis.
Type locality: Table Mountain, near Cape Town.
Additional references: Roberts (Reference Roberts1926); Werdelin and Peigné (Reference Werdelin, Peigné, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
Comments: citation according to Wilson and Reeder (Reference Wilson and Reeder2005). Volume 3 was published in 1778 according to the version reproduced in the Biodiversity Heritage Library (www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/135003#page/141/mode/1up) and Felis caracal is listed on p. 587. Plate 110 appears in an undated volume containing plates 81–165 (www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/97341#page/131/mode/1up).
†Dinofelis barlowi Broom, 1937. S. Afr. J. Sci. 33: 757.
Synonyms: Machaerodus; Megantereon; Therailurus; darti; transvaalensis.
Type locality: Sterkfontein.
Additional references: Collings (Reference Collings1973); Collings et al. (Reference Collings, Cruickshank, Maguire and Randall1976); Cooke (Reference Cooke1991); Ewer (Reference Ewer1955c, Reference Ewer1957a); Hemmer (Reference Hemmer1965); Lacruz et al. (Reference Lacruz, Turner and Berger2006).
†Dinofelis diastemata Astre, Reference Astre1929. Bull. Soc. Géol. France 29: 203.
Additional references: Lacruz et al. (Reference Lacruz, Turner and Berger2006).
†Felis issiodorensis Croizet and Jobert, Reference Croizet and Jobert1828. Recherches sur les ossemens fossiles du Département du Puy-de-Dome: 200.
†Homotherium crenatidens Weithofer, Reference Weithofer1889. Jahrbuch der Kaiserlich Königlichen Geologischen Reichsanstalt 39(1): 65.
Synonyms: Machairodus; altidens.
Comments: there appears to be disagreement as to which species of Homotherium is represented at Sterkfontein: Turner (Reference Turner1987a) considers the material to be H. crenatidens, whereas Reynolds (Reference Reynolds2010b) assigns it to H. altidens.
†Homotherium problematicum Collings, Reference Collings1972. Palaeontol. Afr. 14: 87.
Synonyms: Megantereon; eyrnodon, nestianus.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Additional references: Berta and Galiano (Reference Berta and Galiano1983); Collings (Reference Collings1973); Collings et al. (Reference Collings, Cruickshank, Maguire and Randall1976); Ewer (Reference Ewer1955c).
Leptailurus serval Schreber, 1776. Die Säugethiere 3 (16): pl. 108 [1776], see also text 3 (23): 407 [1777]. Serval.
Synonyms: Felis; spelaeus.
Type locality: restricted to the ‘Cape region of South Africa’.
Additional references: Werdelin and Peigné (Reference Werdelin, Peigné, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
Comments: citation according to Wilson and Reeder (Reference Wilson and Reeder2005). Volume 3 was published in 1778 according to the version reproduced in the Biodiversity Heritage Library (www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/135003#page/135/mode/1up) and Felis serval is listed on p. 587. Plate 107 appears in an undated volume containing plates 81–165 (www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/97341#page/125/mode/1up).
†Metailurus obscurus Hendey, Reference Hendey1974. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 63: 164.
Synonyms: Felis; Adelphailurus; Megantereon obscura.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Werdelin and Peigné (Reference Werdelin, Peigné, Werdelin and Sanders2010).

Subfamily: †Machairodontinae

†Megantereon whitei Broom, 1937. S. Afr. J. Sci. 33: 756.
Synonyms: Felis; cultridens.
Type locality: Schurveberg.
Additional references: Broom (Reference Broom1939c, Reference Broom1946); Hartstone-Rose et al. (Reference Hartstone-Rose, De Ruiter, Berger and Churchill2007); Turner (Reference Turner1987b); Werdelin and Peigné (Reference Werdelin, Peigné, Werdelin and Sanders2010).

Subfamily: Pantherinae

Panthera leo Linnaeus, Reference Linnaeus1758. Systema Naturae Regnum Animale, 10th edition, 1: 41. Lion.
Additional references: Haas et al. (Reference Haas, Hatssen and Krausman2005); Lacruz (Reference Lacruz2009).
Panthera pardus Linnaeus, Reference Linnaeus1758. Systema Naturae Regnum Animale, 10th edition, 1: 41. Leopard.

FAMILY: HERPESTIDAE

†Atilax mesotes Ewer, Reference Ewer and Singer1956. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 126: 259–274.
Synonyms: Herpestes.
Cynictis penicillata Cuvier, Reference Cuvier, Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire and Cuvier1829. Le Règne Animal distribué d’après son Organisation, Nouvelle édition, 1: 158. Yellow mongoose.
Synonyms: lepturus; ogilbyii.
Type locality: restricted to ‘Uitenhage, CP’.
Additional references: Ewer (Reference Ewer1956a, Reference Ewer1957a); Lundholm (Reference Lundholm1954); Roberts (Reference Roberts1932); Smith (Reference Smith1849); Taylor and Meester (Reference Taylor and Meester1993).

FAMILY: HYAENIDAE

†Lycyaenops silberbergi Broom, Reference Broom1946. Mem. Transvaal Mus. 2: 83.
Synonyms: Chasmaporthetes; Lycyaena.
Type locality: Sterkfontein.
Additional references: Broom (Reference Broom1948a); Werdelin and Peigné (Reference Werdelin, Peigné, Werdelin and Sanders2010).

Subfamily: Hyaeninae

†Chasmaporthetes australis Hendey, Reference Hendey1974. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 63: 91.
Synonyms: Euryboas; Percrocuta.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Hendey (Reference Hendey1978a); Werdelin and Peigné (Reference Werdelin, Peigné, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
†Chasmaporthetes nitidula Ewer, 1955. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 124: 842.
Synonyms: Euryboas; Lycyaeon.
Type locality: Sterkfontein.
Additional references: Hendey (Reference Hendey1978a).
Crocuta crocuta Erxleben, Reference Erxleben1777. Systema Regni Animales per Classes: 578. Spotted hyaena.
Synonyms: spelaea.
Additional references: Broom (Reference Broom1939c); Turner (Reference Turner1984).
†Crocuta dietrichi Petter and Howell, Reference Petter and Howell1989. C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris 308: 1038.
Additional references: Morales et al. (Reference Morales, Senut and Pickford2011).
Hyaena hyaena Linnaeus, Reference Linnaeus1758. Systema Naturae Regnum Animale, 10th edition, 1: 40. Striped hyaena.
Synonyms: striata.
Additional references: Turner (Reference Turner1988).
†Hyaena makapani Toerien, Reference Toerien1952. S. Afr. J. Sci. 48: 293.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Additional references: Toerien (Reference Toerien1955).
†Hyaenictis hendeyi Werdelin, Turner and Solounias, Reference Werdelin, Turner and Solounias1994. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 111: 214.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
†Hyaenictis preforfex Hendey, Reference Hendey1974. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 63: 125.
Synonyms: Ictitherium; Leecyaena forfex.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Ewer (Reference Ewer1955a, Reference Ewer1955b); Hendey (Reference Hendey1978a).
Comments: Werdelin et al. (Reference Werdelin, Turner and Solounias1994) maintain that this taxon is a synonym of Ikelohyaena abronia.
†Hyaenictitherium namaquensis Stromer, Reference Stromer1931. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. München Sitz. Math.-Naturwiss. Klasse 1931: 26.
Synonyms: Hyaenictis; Hyaena; namaquense.
Type locality: Kleinzee.
Additional references: Hendey (Reference Hendey1978a); Werdelin and Solounias (Reference Werdelin and Solounias1991).
†Ikelohyaena abronia Hendey, 1974. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 63: 103.
Synonyms: Hyaena.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
†Pachycrocuta brevirostris Gervais, 1850. Zool. Paléontol. Françaises 1: 122.
Synonyms: Canis; Hyaena bellax.
Additional references: Alba et al. (Reference Alba, Vinuesa and Madurell-Malapeira2015); Ewer (Reference Ewer1954, Reference Ewer1956b); Mutter et al. (Reference Mutter, Berger and Schmid2001); Turner and Antón (Reference Turner and Antón1996); Werdelin and Peigné (Reference Werdelin, Peigné, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
Comments: according to Alba et al. (Reference Alba, Vinuesa and Madurell-Malapeira2015), this taxon has long been incorrectly attributed to Aymard since his 1846 paper neither describes nor names the taxon.
Parahyaena brunnea Thunberg, Reference Thunberg1820. K. Svenska Vet.-Akad. Handl. 8: 59. Brown hyaena.
Synonyms: Hyaena.
Type locality: Cape of Good Hope.
Additional references: Grubb (Reference Grubb2004); Hendey (Reference Hendey1973a); Mills (Reference Mills1982); Werdelin and Peigné (Reference Werdelin, Peigné, Werdelin and Sanders2010).

FAMILY: VIVERRIDAE

Subfamily: Viverrinae

Genetta Cuvier, Reference Cuvier1817. Le Règne Animal distribué d’après son Organisation: 156.
Additional references: De Meneses Cabral (Reference De Meneses Cabral1966); Gaubert et al. (Reference Gaubert, Taylor, Fernandes, Bruford and Veron2005).
Genetta genetta Linnaeus, Reference Linnaeus1758. Systema Naturae Regnum Animale, 10th edition, 1: 45. Common genet.
Additional references: Gaubert et al. (Reference Gaubert, Taylor, Fernandes, Bruford and Veron2005); Larivière and Calzada (Reference Larivière and Calzada2001).
†Viverra leakeyi Petter, Reference Petter1963. Bull. Soc. Géol. France, Series 7, 3: 270.
Additional references: Werdelin and Peigné (Reference Werdelin, Peigné, Werdelin and Sanders2010).

Suborder: Caniformia

FAMILY: CANIDAE

Subfamily: Caninae

Canis mesomelas Schreber, Reference Schreber1775. Die Säugethiere 2 (14): pl. 95 [1775], text 3 (21): 370 [1776], 586 [1777]. Black-backed jackal.
Type locality: Cape of Good Hope.
Comments: citation according to Wilson and Reeder (Reference Wilson and Reeder2005). Volume 3 was published in 1778 according to the version reproduced in the Biodiversity Heritage Library (www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/135003#page/98/mode/1up) and Canis mesomelas is listed on p. 586. Plate 95 appears in an undated volume containing plates 81–165 (www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/97341#page/57/mode/1up).
Vulpes Frisch, Reference Frisch1775. Das Natur-System der Vierfüssigen Thiere: 14.
Additional references: Werdelin and Peigné (Reference Werdelin, Peigné, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
Vulpes chama Smith, Reference Smith1833. S. Afr. Quart. J., Series 2, 2: 89. Cape fox.
Type locality: fixed as ‘Port Nolloth’.
†Vulpes pattisoni Broom, 1948. Ann. Transvaal Mus. 21(1): 23.
Type locality: Taung.

FAMILY: URSIDAE

†Agriotherium africanum Hendey, Reference Hendey1972. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 59: 126.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Hendey (Reference Hendey1980); Werdelin and Peigné (Reference Werdelin, Peigné, Werdelin and Sanders2010).

FAMILY: MUSTELIDAE

†Plesiogulo monspessulanus Viret, Reference Viret1939. Trav. Lab. Géol. Fac. Sci. Lyon: 37.
Additional references: Hendey (Reference Hendey1978b); Montoya et al. (Reference Montoya, Morales and Abella2011); Werdelin and Peigné (Reference Werdelin, Peigné, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
Comments: Viret (Reference Viret1939) not seen, pagination therefore not verified.

Subfamily: Lutrinae

†Sivaonyx africanus Stromer, Reference Stromer1931. Sitz. Math.-Naturwiss. Klasse Bayer. Akad. Wiss. München 1931: 19.
Synonyms: Enhydriodon.
†Sivaonyx hendeyi Morales, Pickford and Soria, Reference Morales, Pickford and Soria2005. Rev. Soc. Geol. España 18(1–2): 56.
Synonyms: Enhydriodon.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
†Mellivora benfieldi Hendey, 1978. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 76(10): 343.
Synonyms: punjabiensis.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Werdelin and Peigné (Reference Werdelin, Peigné, Werdelin and Sanders2010).

ORDER: PERISSODACTYLA

FAMILY: †CHALICOTHERIIDAE

†Metaschizotherium transvaalensis George, Reference George1950. S. Afr. J. Sci. 46(8): 241.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Additional references: Cooke (Reference Cooke1950); Coombs and Cote (Reference Coombs, Cote, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Webb (Reference Webb1965).

Subfamily: Schizotheriinae

†Ancylotherium Gaudry, Reference Gaudry1863. Animaux Fossiles et Géologie de l’Attique: 129.
Additional references: Butler (Reference Butler1965); Coombs and Cote (Reference Coombs, Cote, Werdelin and Sanders2010).

FAMILY: EQUIDAE

†Eurygnathohippus Van Hoepen, Reference Van Hoepen1930. Paleontol. Nav. Nas. Mus. Bloemfontein 2(2): 23.
Synonyms: Hipparion; Stylohipparion.
Additional references: Boné and Singer (Reference Boné and Singer1965); Hooijer (Reference Hooijer1975, Reference Hooijer1976).
†Eurygnathohippus cornelianus Van Hoepen, Reference Van Hoepen1930. Paleontol. Nav. Nas. Mus. Bloemfontein 2(2): 23.
Synonyms: Hipparion; Stylohipparion; hipkini; libycum; sitifense in part?; steytleri.
Type locality: Cornelia.
Additional references: Bernor et al. (Reference Bernor, Armour-Chelu, Gilbert, Kaiser, Schulz, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Churcher (Reference Churcher1970, Reference Churcher2000); Churcher and Watson (Reference Churcher, Watson and Brain1993); Franz-Odendaal et al. (Reference Franz-Odendaal, Kaiser and Bernor2003); Pomel (Reference Pomel1897); Van Hoepen (Reference Van Hoepen1932a).
†Eurygnathohippus hooijeri Bernor and Kaiser, Reference Bernor and Kaiser2006. Mitt. Hamb. Zool. Mus. Inst. 103: 148.
Synonyms: Hipparion baardi cf.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Bernor et al. (Reference Bernor, Armour-Chelu, Gilbert, Kaiser, Schulz, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Franz-Odendaal et al. (Reference Franz-Odendaal, Kaiser and Bernor2003); Hooijer (Reference Hooijer1976); Pickford and Senut (Reference Pickford and Senut1997).
†Eurygnathohippus namaquense Haughton, 1932. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 28: 421.
Synonyms: Hipparion; Notohipparion.
Type locality: Areb.
†Hipparion De Christol, Reference De Christol1832. Ann. Sci. Indust. Midi France 1: 181.
Additional references: Boné and Singer (Reference Boné and Singer1965); MacFadden (Reference MacFadden1984).
Comments: there is no certain record of Hipparion, as currently understood, from Africa (Bernor et al. Reference Bernor, Armour-Chelu, Gilbert, Kaiser, Schulz, Werdelin and Sanders2010) and it is therefore most likely that this record should be †Eurygnathohippus cornelianus.

FAMILY: RHINOCEROTIDAE

Subfamily: Rhinocerotinae

Ceratotherium simum Burchell, Reference Burchell1817. Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom. Paris 1817–1819: 97. White rhinoceros.
Synonyms: Diceros; Rhinoceros; simus.
Type locality: since identified as Chue Spring = Heuningvlei.
Additional references: Geraads (Reference Geraads, Werdelin and Sanders2010a); Gray (Reference Gray1867); Groves (Reference Groves1972); Hooijer (Reference Hooijer1959, Reference Hooijer1973); Hooijer and Singer (Reference Hooijer and Singer1960); Smith (Reference Smith1849).
†Diceros praecox Hooijer and Patterson, Reference Hooijer and Patterson1972. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 144: 19.
Synonyms: Ceratotherium.
Additional references: Geraads (Reference Geraads2005, Reference Geraads, Werdelin and Sanders2010a); Guérin (Reference Guérin, Leakey and Harris1987); Hooijer (Reference Hooijer1972, Reference Hooijer1973); Pickford and Senut (Reference Pickford and Senut1997).

ORDER: ARTIODACTYLA

FAMILY: SUIDAE

Subfamily: †Namachoerinae

†Cainochoerus africanus Hendey, Reference Hendey1976. Science 192(4241): 789.
Synonyms: Pecarichoerus?.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Bishop (Reference Bishop, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Pickford (Reference Pickford1988).

Subfamily: Suinae

†Kolpochoerus paiceae Broom, Reference Broom1931. Rec. Albany Mus. 4: 168.
Synonyms: Notochoerus.
Type locality: Windsorton.
Additional references: Hendey and Cooke (Reference Hendey and Cooke1985); Pickford (Reference Pickford2012).
†Metridiochoerus andrewsi Hopwood, Reference Hopwood1926. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 9: 267.
Synonyms: Notochoerus; Tapinochoerus; capensis; meadowsi.
Additional references: Bender (Reference Bender1990); Bishop (Reference Bishop, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Broom (Reference Broom1948a); Cooke (Reference Cooke1993a); Ewer (Reference Ewer1956b); Harris and White (Reference Harris and White1979); Herries et al. (Reference Herries, Adams, Kuykendall and Shaw2006); Hopwood (Reference Hopwood1926); Keen and Singer (Reference Keen and Singer1956); Pickford (Reference Pickford2012, Reference Pickford2013a, Reference Pickford2003b); Shaw (Reference Shaw1938).
†Potamochoeroides hypsodon Dale, Reference Dale1948. S. Afr. Sci. 2(5): 116.
Synonyms: Metridiochoerus; Pronotochoerus; shawi.
Additional references: Bender (Reference Bender1990, Reference Bender1992); Cooke (Reference Cooke1993a, Reference Cooke2005); Ewer (Reference Ewer1956b, Reference Ewer1958d); Pickford (Reference Pickford2013a); Pickford and Gommery (Reference Pickford and Gommery2016).
Potamochoerus larvatus Cuvier, Reference Cuvier1822. Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 8: 447. Bush-pig.
Synonyms: Koiropotamus; porcus.
Additional references: Grubb (Reference Grubb2004); Hopwood (Reference Hopwood1934); Leakey (Reference Leakey1942).

Subfamily: Tetraconodontinae

†Notochoerus capensis Broom, Reference Broom1925. Rec. Albany Mus. 3(4): 308.
Synonyms: scotti.
Type locality: Longlands.
Additional references: Harris and White (Reference Harris and White1979); Pickford and Gommery (Reference Pickford and Gommery2016); Shaw (Reference Shaw1938).
†Notochoerus jaegeri Coppens, Reference Coppens1971. C. R. Hebdom. Scé. Acad. Sci. Paris 272: 3266.
Synonyms: Nyanzachoerus.
Additional references: Bishop (Reference Bishop, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Cooke and Hendey (Reference Cooke and Hendey1992); Harris and White (Reference Harris and White1979).
†Nyanzachoerus kanamensis Leakey, Reference Leakey1958. Foss. Mamm. Afr. 14: 10.
Additional references: Bishop (Reference Bishop, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Harris and White (Reference Harris and White1979).

FAMILY: HIPPOPOTAMIDAE

Hippopotamus Linnaeus, Reference Linnaeus1758. Systema Naturae Regnum Animale, 10th edition, 1: 74.
Additional references: Boisserie (Reference Boisserie2005).
Hippopotamus amphibius Linnaeus, Reference Linnaeus1758. Systema Naturae Regnum Animale, 10th edition, 1: 74. Common hippopotamus.
Synonyms: capensis; poderosus.
Additional references: Fraas (Reference Fraas1907); Hooijer and Singer (Reference Hooijer and Singer1961); Scott (Reference Scott1907); Smith (Reference Smith1849).

FAMILY: GIRAFFIDAE

Subfamily: Giraffinae

Giraffa Brisson, Reference Brisson1762. Regnum animale in classes IX. Distributum, sive Synopsis Methodica 2nd edition: 12, 37.
†Giraffa stillei Dietrich, Reference Dietrich1942. Palaeontographica A 94: 43–133.
Synonyms: gracilis.
Additional references: Arambourg (Reference Arambourg and Arambourg1947); Harris et al. (Reference Harris, Solounias, Geraads, Werdelin and Sanders2010).

Subfamily: †Sivatheriinae

Sivatherium Falconer and Cautley, Reference Falconer and Cautley1836. J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 1836: 38.
†Sivatherium hendeyi Harris, Reference Harris1976. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 69(12): 328.
Synonyms: Helladotherium; Libytherium olduvaiensis.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Harris et al. (Reference Harris, Solounias, Geraads, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Hopwood (Reference Hopwood1934).

FAMILY: BOVIDAE

Subfamily: Alcelaphinae

Alcelaphus caama Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Reference Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire1803. Catalogue des Mammifères du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle: 269. Red hartebeest.
Synonyms: Antilope; Bubalus; bubalis; buselaphus caama.
Type locality: since restricted to syntype locality Steynsburg.
Additional references: Gray (Reference Gray1850a, Reference Gray1850b); Grubb (Reference Grubb2004); Hoffman (Reference Hoffman1953); Smith (Reference Smith1849).
†Alcelaphus robustus Cooke, 1949. Mem. Geol. Surv. S. Afr. 35: 20.
Type locality: Larsen’s Main Workings.
Comments: see Parmularius braini below.
Connochaetes taurinus Burchell, Reference Burchell1824. Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa 2: 278 (footnote) [1824]. Blue wildebeest.
Synonyms: Catoblepas.
Type locality: apparently ‘Kosi Fountain’, but lectotype came from ‘Chue Spring, Maadji Mtn [Klein Heuningvlei]’.
Additional references: Smith (Reference Smith1849).
†Damalacra Gentry, Reference Gentry1980. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 79(8): 264.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
†Damalacra acalla Gentry, Reference Gentry1980. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 79(8): 272.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Brink and Stynder (Reference Brink and Stynder2009).
†Damalacra neanica Gentry, Reference Gentry1980. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 79(8): 265.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Brink and Stynder (Reference Brink and Stynder2009).
†Damaliscus gentryi Vrba, Reference Vrba1977. Palaeontol. Afr. 20: 143.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
†Megalotragus Van Hoepen, 1932. Paleontol. Nav. Nas. Mus. Bloemfontein 2(5): 63.
†Parmularius braini Vrba, Reference Vrba1977. Palaeontol. Afr. 20: 140.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Comments: according to Gentry (Reference Gentry, Werdelin and Sanders2010), Alcelaphus robustus from this site is synonymous with this taxon in the Pliocene.

Subfamily: Antilopinae

†Antidorcas bondi Cooke and Wells, Reference Cooke and Wells1951. S. Afr. J. Sci. 47: 207.
Synonyms: Gazella.
Type locality: Chelmer.
Additional references: Gentry (Reference Gentry, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Plug and Peters (Reference Plug and Peters1991); Vrba (Reference Vrba1973).
†Antidorcas recki Schwarz, Reference Schwarz1932. Zentr. Mineral., Geol. Paläontol. B 1932: 1.
Synonyms: Gazella; wellsi.
Additional references: Gentry (Reference Gentry, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
Gazella De Blainville, Reference De Blainville1816. Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom. Paris 1816: 75.
Additional references: Gentry (Reference Gentry, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
†Gazella vanhoepeni Wells and Cooke, Reference Wells and Cooke1957. Palaeontol. Afr. 4: 43.
Synonyms: gracilior?.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Oreotragus oreotragus Zimmermann, Reference Zimmermann1783. Geographische Geschichte des Menschen und der Allgemein Verbreiteten Vierfüssigen Thiere 3: 269. Klipspringer.
Synonyms: Palaeotragiscus longiceps; major.
Type locality: now known to be False Bay.
Additional references: Broom (Reference Broom1934); Gentry (Reference Gentry, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Gray (Reference Gray1850a, Reference Gray1850b); Watson and Plug (Reference Watson and Plug1995); Wells (Reference Wells1951).
Raphicerus Smith, Reference Smith and Griffiths1827. In: Griffith et al., The Animal Kingdom Arranged in Conformity with its Organization by the Baron Cuvier 5: 342.
Additional references: Klein (Reference Klein1976c).
†Raphicerus paralus Gentry, Reference Gentry1980. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 79(8): 300.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.

Subfamily: Bovinae

†Miotragoceros acrae Gentry, Reference Gentry1974. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 65(5): 146.
Synonyms: Mesembriportax; Tragoportax.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Gentry (Reference Gentry1980, Reference Gentry, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
Syncerus Hodgson, Reference Hodgson1847. J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, Series 2, 16: 709.
Synonyms: Bos; Bubalis; Pelorovis.
Additional references: Martínez-Navarro et al. (Reference Martínez-Navarro, Pérez-Claros, Palombo, Rook and Palmqvist2007).
†Syncerus aceolotus Gentry and Gentry, Reference Gentry and Gentry1978. Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. Geol. Ser. 29: 313.
Additional references: Gentry (Reference Gentry, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
Tragelaphus De Blainville, Reference De Blainville1816. Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom. Paris 1816: 75.
Tragelaphus angasii Angas, Reference Angas1848. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1848: 89. Nyala.
Type locality: ‘Hills that border: upon the northern shores of St Lucia Bay’.
Additional references: Gray (Reference Gray1850a, Reference Gray1850b); Grubb (Reference Grubb2004); Willows-Munro et al. (Reference Willows-Munro, Robinson and Matthee2005).
†Tragelaphus pricei Wells and Cooke, Reference Wells and Cooke1957. Palaeontol. Afr. 4: 12.
Synonyms: Cephalophus.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Additional references: Gentry (Reference Gentry, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
Tragelaphus strepsiceros Pallas, Reference Pallas1766. P.S. Pallas Medecinae Doctoris Miscellanea Zoologica: 9. Greater kudu.
Synonyms: Damalis; Strepsiceros; capensis.
Type locality: restricted to eastern part of western Cape Province.
Additional references: Smith (Reference Smith1849); Willows-Munro et al. (Reference Willows-Munro, Robinson and Matthee2005).
†Ugandax demissum Gentry, Reference Gentry1980. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 79(8): 233.
Synonyms: Simatherium.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Gentry (Reference Gentry2006, Reference Gentry, Werdelin and Sanders2010); Geraads (Reference Geraads1992); Pickford and Senut (Reference Pickford and Senut1997).

Subfamily: Caprinae

†’Makapania’ broomi Wells and Cooke, Reference Wells and Cooke1957. Palaeontol. Afr. 4: 26.
Synonyms: Bos; Hippotragus; Hippotragoides; makapaani.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Additional references: Gentry (Reference Gentry1970, Reference Gentry, Werdelin and Sanders2010).

Subfamily: Cephalophinae

†Cephalophus parvus Broom, Reference Broom1934. S. Afr. J. Sci. 31: 477.
Additional references: Gentry (Reference Gentry, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
Sylvicapra Ogilby, Reference Ogilby1836. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1836: 138.

Subfamily: Hippotraginae

†Hippotragus cookei Vrba, Reference Vrba1987. Palaeontol. Afr. 26(5): 49.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Hippotragus niger Harris, Reference Harris1838. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1838: 2. Sable antelope.
Synonyms: harrisi.
Type locality: since specified as Magaliesberg near Krugersdorp and Rustenburg.
Additional references: Gray (Reference Gray1850a, Reference Gray1850b); Harris (Reference Harris1838a).
†Wellsiana torticornuta Vrba, 1987. Palaeontol. Afr. 26(5): 53.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.
Additional references: Gentry (Reference Gentry, Werdelin and Sanders2010).

Subfamily: Reduncinae

Kobus Smith, 1840. Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa, Part 12: pl. 28, plus text.
Synonyms: Aigoceros; Onotragus.
Additional references: Birungi and Arctander (Reference Birungi and Arctander2001).
†Kobus subdolus Gentry, Reference Gentry1980. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 79(8): 248.
Type locality: Langebaanweg.
Additional references: Gentry (Reference Gentry, Werdelin and Sanders2010).
Redunca Smith, Reference Smith and Griffiths1827. In: Griffith et al., The Animal Kingdom Arranged in Conformity with its Organization by the Baron Cuvier 5: 337.
Redunca darti Wells and Cooke, Reference Wells and Cooke1957. Palaeontol. Afr. 4: 17.
Type locality: Limeworks Makapansgat.

4.2 Pliocene Sites

The distribution of Pliocene sites is noticeably broader than was the case in previous epochs (Figure 4.1). There are three particularly important and rich sites that have provided much of the available information. These are Langebaanweg (3218) in the southwest, and Taung (2724) and Limeworks Makapansgat (2429) to the northeast. Praia de Morrugusu (2335) may only have produced a specimen of Deinotherium bozasi (Harris Reference Harris1977), but it is notable for its location in the extreme east of the region.

Figure 4.1. Location of Pliocene sites in the region.

Figure 0

Figure 4.1. Location of Pliocene sites in the region.

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