Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Return to Dor al-Talha

Paleontological Reconnaissance of the Early Tertiary of Libya

  • Chapter
Elwyn Simons: A Search for Origins

Part of the book series: Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects ((DIPR))

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ahlbrandt, T. S. (2001). The Sirte Basin Province of Libya – Sirte-Zelten total petroleum system. U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2202-F: 1–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, C. W. (1906). A Descriptive Catalogue of the Tertiary Vertebrata of the Fayum, Egypt. British Museum (Natural History), London, 324 pages, 26 plates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arambourg, C. (1961). Note préliminaire sur quelques Vertébrés nouveaux du Burdigalien de Libye. Comptes Rendus Sommaire des Seances de la Société Géologique de France 4: 107–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arambourg, C. (1963). Continental vertebrate faunas of the Tertiary of North Africa. In: Howell, F. C., and Bourliere, F. (eds.), African Ecology and Human Evolution. Aldine, Chicago, pp. 55–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arambourg, C., and Magnier, P. (1961). Gisements de vertébrés dans le bassin tertaire de Syrte (Libie). Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l'Academie de Sciences 252: 1181–1183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bain, R. J. (1990). Diagenetic, nonevaporative origin for gypsum. Geology 18, 447–450.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bellair, P., Freulon, J., and Lefranc, J. (1954). Découverte d’une formation á vertébrés et végétaux d’âge tertiaire au bord occidental du désert libyque (Sahara occidental). C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris 239: 1822–1824.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bown, T. M., and Kraus M. J. (1988). Geology and paleoenvironment of the Oligocene Jebel Qatrani Formation and adjacent rocks, Fayum Depression, Egypt. U. S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 1452: 1–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bown, T. M., Kraus, M. J., Wing, S. L., Fleagle, J. G., Tiffney, B. H., Simons, E. L., and Vondra, C. F. (1982). The Fayum primate forest revisited. J. Hum. Evol. 11: 603–632.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Busrewil, M. T., Mriheel, I. Y., and Al-Fasatwi, T. A. (1996). Volcanism, tectonism, and hydrocarbon potential of parts of Al Haruj area, SW Sirt Basin, Libya. In: Salem, M. J., Mouzughi, A. J., and Hammuda, O. S. (eds.), The Geology of Sirt Basin, Volume 3. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 317–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Court, N. (1992a). The skull of Arsinoitherium (Mammalia, Embrithopoda) and the higher order interrelationships of ungulates. Palaeovertebrata 22, 1–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Court, N. (1992b). A unique form of dental bilophodonty and a functional interpretation of peculiarities in the masticatory system of Arsinoitherium (Mammalia, Embrithopoda). Hist. Biol. 6: 91–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Court, N. (1993). Morphology and functional anatomy of the postcranial skeleton in Arsinoitherium (Mammalia, Embrithopoda). Palaeontolographica Abhandlungen A 226: 125–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Court, N. (1995). A new species of Numidotherium (Mammalia: Proboscidea) from the Eocene of Libya and the early phylogey of the Proboscidea. J. Vertebr. Paleontol. 15: 650–671.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Court, N., and Hartenberger, J.-L. (1992). A new species of the hyracoid mammal Titanohyrax from the Eocene of Tunisia. Palaeontology 35: 309–317.

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Kashab, B. (1977). Approach on genus Arsinoitherium and the diagnosis of its closely related sympatric fossil species, in Lower Oligocene of Fayum Province Egypt. The Geological Survey of Egypt and Mining Authority, Cairo, Paper No. 62: 29–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Kashab, B. (1979). A brief account of Egyptian Paleogene Proboscidea. Annals of the Geological Survey of Egypt 9: 245–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Kashab, B., Simons, E. L., and Fleagle, J. G. (1983). Annotated bibliography of Egyptian vertebrate fossils up to the end of 1980. Geological Survey of Egypt and Mining Authority, Cairo, Paper No. 65: 1–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fejfar, O. (1987). Oligocene rodents from Zallah Oasis, Libya. Münchner Geowissenschaften Abhandlungen A 10: 265–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaziry, A. W. (1987). New mammals from the Jabal Zaltan site, Libya. Senckenbergiana lethaea 68: 69–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geological Map of Libya (1985). First Edition. Geological Researches and Mining Department, Industrial Research Center, Tripoli.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gheerbrant, E., Sudre, J., Cappetta, H., Iarochene, M., Amaghzaz, M., and Bouya, B. (2002). A new large mammal from the Ypresian of Morocco: Evidence of surprising diversity of early proboscideans. Acta Palaeontol. Pol. 47: 493–506.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gingerich, P. D. (1992). Marine mammals (Cetacea and Sirenia) from the Eocene of Gebel Mokattam and Fayum, Egypt: stratigraphy, age, and paleoenvironments. University of Michigan, Papers on Paleontology 30, 1–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gingerich, P. D. (this volume). Early evolution of whales: A century of research in Egypt. In: Fleagle, J. G. (ed.), Elwyn L. Simons: Mapping the Progress of Primate Evolution. Plenum Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Godinot, M. (1994). Early North African primates and their significance for the origin of Simiiformes (= Anthropoidea). In: Fleagle, J. G., and Kay, R. F. (eds.), Anthropoid Origins. Plenum Press, New York, pp 235–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gumati, Y. D., and Kanes, W. H. (1985). Early Tertiary subsidence and sedimentary facies – northern Sirte Basin, Libya. Am. Assoc. Petr. Geol. B. 69: 39–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kappelman, J., Simons, E. L., and Swisher, C. C., III (1992). New age determinations for the Eocene-Oligocene boundary sediments in the Fayum depression, northern Egypt. J. Geol. 100: 647–667.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kappelman, J., Rasmussen, T., Sanders, W., Feseha, M., Bown, T. M., Copeland, P., Crabaugh, J., Fleagle, J., Glantz, M., Gordon. A., Jacobs, B., Maga, M., Muldoon, K., Pan, A., Pyne, L., Richmond, B., Ryan, T., Seiffert, E., Sen, S., Todd, L., Wiemann, M. C., and Winkler, A. (2003). Oligocene mammals from Ethiopia and faunal exchange between Afro-Arabia and Eurasia. Nature 426: 549–552.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klitsch, E. (1967). Der Basaltvulkanismus des Jabal Haruj, Ostfezzan/ Libyen. Geol. Rdsch. 57: 585–601.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kortlandt, A. (1980). The Fayum primate forest: Did it exist? J. Hum. Evol. 9: 277–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahboubi, M., Ameur, R., Crochet, J. Y., and Jaeger, J.-J. (1984). Earliest known proboscidean from the early Eocene of north-west Africa. Nature 308: 543–544.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mahboubi, M., Ameur, R., Chrochet, J. Y., and Jaeger, J.-J. (1986). El Kohol (Saharan Atlas, Algeria), a new Eocene mammal locality in northwestern Africa: stratigraphic, phylogenetic and paleobiogeographical data. Palaeontographica Abteilung A, 192, 15–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, E. R. (1999). Faunal correlation of Wadi Moghara, Egypt: Implications for the age of Prohylobates tandyi. J. Hum. Evol. 36: 519–533.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olson, S. L., and Rasmussen, D. T. (1986). The paleoenvironment of the earliest anthropoids: new evidence from the Oligocene avifauna of Egypt. Science 233: 1202–1204.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osborn, H. F. (1908). New fossil mammals from the Fayum Oligocene, Egypt. B. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 24: 265–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, D. T. (1989). The evolution of the Hyracoidea: a review of the fossil evidence. In: Prothero, D. R., and Schoch, R. M. (eds.), The Evolution of Perissodactyls. Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 57–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, D. T., Bown, T. M., Simons, E. L. (1992). The Eocene-Oligocene transition in continental Africa. In: Prothero, D. R., and Berggren, W. A. (eds), Eocene-Oligocene Climatic and Biotic Evolution. Princeton Univ., Princeton, New Jersey, pp. 548–566.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salem, M. J., El-Hawat, A. S., and Sbeta, A. M. (1996). The Geology of the Sirt Basin, Volume 1. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, W. J., Kappelman, J., Rasmussen, D. T. (2004). New large-bodied mammals from the late Oligocene site of Chilga, Ethiopia. Acta Palaeontol. Pol. 49: 365–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savage, R. J. G. (1969). Early Tertiary mammal locality in southern Libya. P. Geol. Soc. London 1657: 167–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savage, R. J. G. (1971). Review of the fossil mammals of Libya. In: Gray, C. (ed.), Symposium on the Geology of Libya. University of Libya, Tripoli, pp. 215–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlosser, M. (1911). Beitrage zur kentniss der Oligozanen Landsaugetiere aus dem Fayum, Egypt. Beitr. Palaeont. Geol. Ost. Ung., Wien 24: 51–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seiffert, E. R. (2006). Revised age estimates for the later Paleogene mammal faunas of Egypt and Oman. P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103: 5000–5005.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seiffert, E. R., Simons, E. L., and Attia, Y. (2003). Fossil evidence for an ancient divergence of lorises and galagos. Nature 422: 421–424.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seiffert, E. R., Simons, E. L., Clyde, W. C., Rossie, J. B., Attia, Y., Bown, T. M., Chatrath, P. S., and Mathison, M. E. (2005). Basal anthropoids from Egypt and the antiquity of Africa's higher primate radiations. Science 310: 300–304.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seiffert, E. R. (2008). Geology, paleoenvironment, and age of Birket Qarun Locality 2 (BQ-2), Fayum Depression, Egypt. In: Fleagle, J. G. and Gilbert, C.C. (eds.), Elwyn Simons: A Search for Origins. Springer, New York, pp. 71–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selley, R. C. (1969). Nearshore marine and continental sediments of the Sirte Basin, Libya. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London 124: 419–460.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selley, R. C. (1997). The Sirte Basin of Libya. In: Selley, R. C. (ed.), The Sedimentary Basins of the World, Volume 3. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 27–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simons, E. L. (1968). Early Cenozoic mammalian faunas, Fayum Province, Egypt, Part I, African Oligocene mammals: introduction, history of study, and faunal succession. Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, Bulletin 28:1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simons, E. L. (1987). New faces of Aegyptopithecus from the Oligocene of Egypt. J. Hum. Evol. 16: 273–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simons, E. L. (1990). Discovery of the oldest known anthropoidean skull from the Paleogene of Egypt. Science 247: 1521–1612.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simons, E. L. (1995). Crania of Apidium: primitive anthropoidean (Primates, Parapithecidae) from the Egyptian Oligocene. Am. Mus. Nov. 3124: 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simons, E. L. (1997). Preliminary description of the cranium of Proteopithecus sylviae, an Egyptian Late Eocene anthropoidea primate. P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94: 14970–14975.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simons, E. L. (2001). The cranium of Parapithecus grangeri, an Egyptian Oligocene anthropoidean primate. P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 98: 7892–7897.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simons, E. L., and Rasmussen, D. T. (1995). A whole new world of ancestors: Eocene anthropoideans from Africa. Evol. Anthropol. 3: 128–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. B., Askar, A. S., Bergig, K. A., Tshakreen, S. O., Abugares, M. M., Sliman, O., Lamanna, M. C., and Rasmussen, D. T. (in press). An abelisauroid theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Libya. Naturwissenschaften 00, 000–000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, N., O’Conner, P. M., Gottfried, M. D., Roberts, E. M., and Ngasala, S. (2005). An anthropoid primate humerus from the Rukwa Rift Basin, Paleogene of southwestern Tanzania. J. Vertebr. Paleontol. 25: 986–989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, N., O’Conner, P. M., Gottfried, M. D., Roberts, E. M., Ngasala, S., and Dawson, M. R. (2006). Metaphiomys (Rodentia: Phiomyidae) from the Paleogene of southwestern Tanzania. J. Paleontol. 80: 407–410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, N. J., Gottfried, M. D., Roberts, Saidi Kapilima, E. M., Ngasala, and O’Conner, P. M. (2008). Paleontological Exploration in Africa: A View from the Rukwa Rift Basin of Tanzania. } In: Fleagle, J. G. and Gilbert, C.C. (eds.), Elwyn Simons: A Search for Origins. Springer, New York, pp. 159–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanner, L. G. (1978). Embrithopoda. In: Maglio, V. J., and Cooke, H. B. S. (eds.), Evolution of African Mammals. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, pp. 279–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tassy, P. (1981). Le crâne de Moeritherium (Proboscidea, Mammalia) de l’Éocène de Dor el Talha (Libye) et le problème de la classification phylogénétique du genre dans les Tethytheria McKenna, 1975. Bull. Mus. Natn. Hist. Nat., Paris, 4 e sér., 3, section C., no 1, 87–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tassy, P. (1994). Origin and differentiation of the Elephantiformes (Proboscidea, Mammalia). Verhandlungen Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins in Hamburg 34, 73–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, H., Roger, R., Sen, S., Pickford, M., Gheerbrant, E., Al-Sulaimani, Z., and Al-Busaidi, S. (1999). Oligocene and Miocene terrestrial vertebrates in the southern Arabian Peninsula (Sultanate of Oman) and their geodynamic and palaeogeographic settings. In: Whybrow, P. J., and Hill, A. (eds.) Fossil Vertebrates of Arabia. Yale Univ., New Haven, pp. 430–442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, E., Gheerbrant, E., and Pacaud, J. M. (2004). Découverte de squelettes subcomplets de mammifères dans le Paléogène d'Afrique (Libye). C. R. Palevol 3: 209–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tobien, H. (1971). Moeritherium, Palaeomastodon, Phiomia aus dem Paläogen Nordafricas und die Abstammung der Mastodonten (Proboscidea, Mammalia). Mitteilungen aus dem Geolischen Institut der Technischen Universität Hannover 10, 141–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wennekers, J. H. N., Wallace, F. K., and Abugares, Y. I. (1996). The geology and hydrocarbons of the Sirt Basin: A synopsis. In: Salem, M. J., El-Hawat, A. S., and Sbeta, A. M. (eds.), The Geology of the Sirt Basin, Volume 1. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 3–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wight, A. W. R. (1980). Palaeogene vertebrate fauna and regressive sediments of DÅ«r at Talha, southern Sirt Basin, Libya. In: Salem, M. J., and Busrewil, M. T. (eds.), The Geology of Libya, Volume 1. Academic Press, London, pp. 309–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wing, S. L., and Tiffney, B. H. (1982). A paleotropical flora from the Oligocene Jebel Qatrani Formation of northern Egypt: A preliminary report. Miscellaneous Series of the Botanical Society of America 162, 67.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA

    D. Tab Rasmussen

Authors
  1. D. Tab Rasmussen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sefau O. Tshakreen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Miloud M. Abugares
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joshua B. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomical Sciences Health Sciences Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8081

    John G. Fleagle

  2. Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-4364

    Christopher C. Gilbert

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Rasmussen, D.T., Tshakreen, S.O., Abugares, M.M., Smith, J.B. (2008). Return to Dor al-Talha. In: Fleagle, J.G., Gilbert, C.C. (eds) Elwyn Simons: A Search for Origins. Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73896-3_13

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation