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Re: request info on large predators in the late miocene, early pliocene.
ima pseudonym (fictitious@alias.incognito.myob)
22 Jan 1997 05:52:32 GMT
In article <5c17q0$6hla@argo.unm.edu>, wrsmith@unm.edu says...
>J. de Lyser <gd33463@glo.be> wrote:
> I need some information on possible large predators in the late
> miocene, early pliocene, in the same geographical areas as
> early Australopithecus Afarensis. (5-4mln years ago).
>
Sounds like an interesting project and a fun subject; care to discuss it here? Is this for
a novel, a dissertation, or a term project?
>In a paleo-anth course I used a reference book by Cooke (I think, it
>was a few years ago) with a title along the lines of "Extinct Mammals
>of Africa". Wonderful book.
Don't forget the reptiles: early hominids would also have to watch out for crocodiles
whenever visting bodies of water. Large pythons [how far back does the record for
_P. sebae_ extend?] might well have eaten prey as large as adults of some of the
early small-bodied hominids, and while not strictly predators, vipers and cobras would
still be potentially deadly biotic hazards.
cheers
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