title: Taphonomic, avian, and small-vertebrate indicators of Ardipithecus ramidus habitat.
abstract: Thousands of vertebrate specimens were systematically collected from the stratigraphic interval containing Ardipithecus ramidus. The carcasses of larger mammals were heavily ravaged by carnivores. Nearly 10,000 small-mammal remains appear to be derived primarily from decomposed owl pellets. The rich avifauna includes at least 29 species, mostly nonaquatic forms. Modern analogs of the most abundant birds and of a variety of rodents are associated with mesic woodland environments distant from large water bodies. These findings support inferences from associated geological, isotopic, invertebrate, and large-vertebrate assemblages. The combined results suggest that Ar. ramidus occupied a wooded Pliocene habitat.
authors.affiliation: Iziko South African Museum, Natural History Department, Cenozoic Palaeontology Collections, Box 61, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Louchart
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wesselman
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Blumenschine
authors.forename: Leslea J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Hlusko
authors.forename: Jackson K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Njau
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Mesfin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asnake
authors.forename: Tim D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001717:Birds / Q000145:classification; D001842:Bone and Bones; D002048:Burial; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D005002:Ethiopia; D005580:Fossils; D015186:Hominidae; D008322:Mammals; D014197:Trees; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000145:classification