Department of Geology and Geoenviromment
Library of the School of Science

2024-03-15

2024

Georgitsis Michail

Γεώργιος Θεοδώρου, Ομότιμος Καθηγητής Τμήμα Γεωλογίας & Γεωπεριβάλλοντος, ΕΚΠΑ
Σωκράτης Ρουσιάκης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής Τμήμα Γεωλογίας & Γεωπεριβάλλοντος, ΕΚΠΑ
Γεώργιος Ηλιόπουλος ,Καθηγητής Τμήμα Γεωλογίας, Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών
Ευαγγελία Τσουκαλά, Ομότιμη Καθηγήτρια Τμήμα Γεωλογίας, ΑΠΘ
Δημήτριος Κωστόπουλος, Καθηγητής Τμήμα Γεωλογίας, ΑΠΘ
Γεώργιος Λύρας, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής Τμήμα Γεωλογίας & Γεωπεριβάλλοντος, ΕΚΠΑ
Ευστράτιος Βαλάκος, Καθηγητής Τμήμα Βιολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ

Μορφολειτουργική, βιομετρική και ταφονομική μελέτη των ανωπλειστοκαινικών ενδημικών νάνων ιπποπόταμων από την Αγία Νάπα της Κύπρου

Greek

Morphofunctional, biometrical and taphonomical study of the Upper Pleistocene endemic dwarf hippopotamuses from Ayia Napa, Cyprus

This doctoral dissertation focused on the detailed morphofunctional study of the fore and hind limb bones of the endemic dwarf hippopotamus Phanourios minor, deriving from the palaeontological site of Ayia Napa, Cyprus, as well as on its taphonomical data related to the formation of the deposit. All the skeletal elements used are coming from the excavations that took place in 2008, 2014 and 2015. Most of the fossilized material from Ayia Napa locality are attributed to Cypriot pygmy hippopotamus P. minor and is placed chronologically in Upper Pleistocene. P. minor is a perfect example of insular endemism, in which the large continental hippopotamuses of the genus Hippopotamus migrated to Cyprus, as well as to other Mediterranean islands and Madagascar, evolving into new species of smaller body size. The limb bones are fully described and then compared mainly with those of extant hippos, but also with those of the other insular species, in order to highlight the changes in anatomy and functional morphology of the postcranial skeleton of Cypriot hippo. The morphofunctional study reveals that P. minor acquires a specialized movement on island substrate, which involves the adoption of a powerful but low-speed locomotion, accompanied by a crouched body posture. The limb bones appear particularly robust with strong muscular attachments and a stiff connection between them. The mobility of the skeletal elements closer to the trunk is more limited in the sagittal plane than that in its continental ancestor, mainly in terms of extensor abilities. Contrarily, the carpus and the tarsus of the dwarf Cypriot hippo exhibit a better adaptation in “anterior – posterior” movements with a reduced, however, ability in lateral movements, but with remarkable stabilization of the joints. The factors that contributed to the configuration of the morphofunctional traits of the postcranial skeleton of P. minor are related to the influence of the environmental conditions of Cyprus, the significant size reduction for the species and the phylogenetic relationship with its mainland ancestor. Taphonomically, the fossiliferous deposit of Ayia Napa resulted from the transfer of the skeletal elements of P. minor from an adjacent place with their subsequent deposition at the find site. The transportation of the osteological material was carried out by natural processes after the death of the hippopotamuses, which were mainly due to the action of running water and their subsequent deposition took place without any orientation.

Science

palaeontology, functional morphology, mammals, Cypriot hippo, fossils

Yes

3

Yes

166

237

File access is restricted until 2027-03-20.

https://pergamos.lib.uoa.gr/uoa/dl/object/3392231