Bison Hamilton Smith, 1827
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5252/geodiversitas2018v40a13 |
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publication LSID |
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F370A5EE-7683-457A-BE38-93301AD6797B |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F487A5-FFE7-FFD6-FC65-24B3FE2AF95F |
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treatment provided by |
Marcus |
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scientific name |
Bison Hamilton Smith, 1827 |
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Subgenus Bison Hamilton Smith, 1827 View in CoL
TYPE SPECIES. — Bos bison Linnaeus, 1758 by subsequent designation (Hamilton Smith 1827).
Bison (Bison) cf. degiulii ( Masini, Palombo & Rozzi, 2013) ( Figs 2-7 View FIG View FIG View FIG View FIG View FIG View FIG )
REMARKS
The binomial Eobison degiulii was originally introduced by Masini (1989: 54) in a dissertation thesis by the University of Modena and Florence ( Italy), which, according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999: arts 8, 9), does not meet the criteria of formal publication. The species appears in its original combination or as Bison (Eobison) degiulii or as Bison degiulii in several following works by multiple authors without, however, being associated by any formal nomenclature act. It re-appears in the periodical journal Quaternary International by Masini et al. (2013: 53) as ‘ Bison (Eobison) degiulii Masini (1989) ’ associated by a holotype designation ( Masini et al. 2013: fig. 9), illustrations, a description of basic cranial features and comparisons, altogether constituting sufficient elements of an available nomenclature act in a published work under ICZN (see also Croitor 2016).
The Kalamoto (KLT) sample
STUDIED MATERIAL. — Partial cranium, KLT-638; right upper toothrow with P2-M3; left upper molar, KLT-869; left P4(emerging)- M3, KLT-319; left lower toothrow with p2-m3, KLT-318; left lower toothrow with p3-m3, KLT-177; right metacarpal III+IV, KLT-305, 646; right metatarsal III+IV, KLT-345.
DESCRIPTION
Part of cranium, KLT-638
Part of the basioccipital, the occipital, the complete mastoids and tympanic bullae, and the anterior part of the muzzle are missing ( Fig. 2 View FIG ). Horncores are also not preserved apart from their very basal part, which is severely damaged. The cranium does not show any plastic deformation but the surface is extensively cracked, so tracing suture lines is in most cases impossible. The specimen belongs to a mature individual: permanent upper premolars are fully established, P4 and M3 are at a moderate wear stage, the M1 entostyle starts to vanish and the M3 entostyle remains as a loop ( Fig. 2F View FIG ); it corresponds to a more than 60 months individual in European bison equivalent age ( Wegrzyn & Serwatka 1984) and at the beginning of stage S3 (full maturity) of American bison ( Skinner & Kaisen 1946) , likely having an EBEA between 6 and 10 years. Though not detectable throughout their lengths, the sagittal suture is still open and the coronal suture seems partially obliterated ( Fig. 2B View FIG ). Interparietal-parietal suture is completely obliterated and raised as a blunt crest.
According to our sexual character analysis ( Table 1), KLT- 638 represents most likely a female individual. Based on the M1 area (according to Legendre’s 1986 predictions), a body mass at about 515 kg is estimated for KLT-638, placing this individual within the lower (female) spectrum of body mass range estimated for the Apollonia bison (see below). Cranial measurements are given in Table 2.
The central part of the dorsal surface above the orbits (and most likely around the frontonasal region) is significantly vaulted (in transverse sense Fig. 2B View FIG : profile [1]); the cranial roof becomes then flat to slightly concave till the back of the horncores and slightly convex at the parietal region ( Fig. 2B View FIG : profiles [2]-[5]). Hence, frontals appear not pneumatized between the horncores and there is no frontal ridge connecting the horncore bases. The supraorbital foramina are placed behind the orbits, spaced widely apart and sunken in rather deep (c. 11 mm) and narrow (6-9 mm) grooves that are largely widening and shallowing rostrally before disappearing at the level of the anterior margins of the orbits (in Fig. 2B View FIG the undistorted left one). The flexion between frontal and parietal region is weak (c. 146°) and that between parietal and occipital slightly obtuse (c. 110°) ( Fig. 2 View FIG B-D, profiles [4]- [5]). In occipital view, the cranial roof is not raised above the nuchal crest ( Fig. 2E View FIG ).
The horncores are inserted caudo-laterally and rather close to the orbits, hence the profile of the postorbital constriction is strongly convex ( Fig. 2 View FIG B-E). The pedicles are short, weakly pneumatized (slightly inflated dorsal profile) and together with the preserved basal part of the horncores direct laterally-posterolaterally and bend immediately downwards without rising above the frontal level. Each horncore diverges at an angle of 60° from the sagittal plane. The horncores are rather small compared to the cranium size ( Table 2) and weakly compressed dorsoventrally (the index DVD/DAP is 83-89). They possibly curve quickly upwards and taper fast. The greater rostrocaudal axis of the horncore base is trending parallel to the frontals. The lowermost preserved point of the ventral surface of the horncores is at the level of the lower edge of the external occipital protuberance.
The bregma is clearly traceable and the coronal suture forms an angle of about 100°. Although rostrocaudally short, the parietals are clearly visible in dorsal view ( Fig. 2B View FIG ), taking part of the formation of the cranial roof; they continue almost flat laterally. The intertemporal bridge is very narrow (greatest width at the central part and along the sagittal plane is estimated at 35 mm) ( Fig. 2B, E View FIG ). The temporal crests are short, moderately developed, and not thickened (c. 6 mm). The temporal fossae ( Fig. 2C, E View FIG ) are narrow and deep and turn slightly upwards at their caudal part. The minimum distance between the hint ends of the temporal fossae is less than half of the maximum cranium width at the back of the orbits (110.0 vs 240.0 mm, respectively; Table 2). The nuchal crest is weak and its upper part is placed lower than the frontal surface ( Fig. 2E View FIG ). The occipital surface has a roughly trapezoidal outline and is moderately undulated ( Fig. 2E View FIG ); the external occipital protuberance is well developed and wide (height: 31.0 mm; width: 42.0 mm), accompanied on both sides by wide and moderately deep ligament depressions ( Fig. 2E View FIG ). Though strongly damaged, the mastoid appears to have a strongly convex lateral outline with thick lower part, well covering the base of the jugular process ( Fig. 2E View FIG ).
The basioccipital is not preserved apart of its rostral part ( Fig. 2A View FIG ). The anterior tuberosities of the basioccipital are rather strong (estimated length: 31.0 mm; width: 17.0 mm) and converge rostrally. The foramen oval opens just below of them, is facing laterally and it is oval shaped and moderately large (length: 11.5 mm; height: 8.4 mm). The body of the basisphenoid is strongly bent upwards compared to the basioccipital (110°). The muscular processes of the temporal bones are strong and direct mostly ventrally and weakly rostrally. The glenoid fossa is elliptic shaped, 37.8 mm wide and almost flat ( Fig. 2A View FIG ); its posterior margin is situated immediately below the anterior edge of the horncore base.
The orbits are large, rather rounded and not tubular but weakly protruding laterally at their caudal parts ( Fig. 2B, D View FIG ); their anteriormost end is placed above the posterior lobe of the M3. A shallow and rather round depression appears on jugal, just in front of the rostrodorsal part of the orbital margin ( Fig. 2C, D View FIG ). A sharp crest is running under the orbit and the zygomatic arches gently converge each other caudally. The facial crest is sigmoidal and especially well-marked above P2-P3, where appears parallel to the alveolar level, and above M1, where it has an almost vertical orientation.
The palate is wide, weakly concave transversally and broadens slightly in caudo-rostral direction (width at the back lobe of M3: 83.0 mm; width at P3: 88.0 mm; Fig. 2A View FIG ). The palatine foramina are placed directly on the transverse palatine suture and at the level of the back lobe of M2 ( Fig. 2A View FIG ). The staphylion is “open-U” shaped with flattened rostral border and it is placed 12 mm behind M3 and more caudally compared to the lateral palatine indentations ( Fig. 2A View FIG ). The vomer is not fused with the palate.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.