Paleontology and Geology of Laetoli: Human Evolution in Context

Covering new investigations of the geology, paleontology and paleoecology of the early hominin site of Laetoli in northern Tanzania, this volume describes newly discovered fossil hominins, and reviews the systematics and paleobiology of associated fauna.

This volume 2 and its companion volume 1 present the results of new investigations into the geology, paleontology and paleoecology of the early hominin site of Laetoli in northern Tanzania. The site is one of the most important paleontological and paleoanthropological sites in Africa, worldrenowned for the discovery of fossils of the early hominin Australopithecus afarensis, as well as remarkable trails of its footprints. The first volume provides new evidence on the geology, geochronology, ecology, ecomorphology and taphonomy of the site. The second volume describes newly discovered fossil hominins from Laetoli, belonging to Australopithecus afarensis and Paranthropus aethiopicus, and presents detailed information on the systematics and paleobiology of the diverse associated fauna. Together, these contributions provide one of the most comprehensive accounts of a fossil hominin site, and they offer important new insights into the early stages of human evolution and its context.

1 Introduction.- 2 Rodents.- 3 The lower third premolar of Serengetilagus praecapensis (Mammalia: Lagomorpha: Leporidae) from Laetoli, Tanzania.- 4 Macroscelidea.- 5 Galagidae (Lorisoidea, Primates).- 6 Cercopithecids (Cercopithecidae, Primates).- 7 Hominins from the Upper Laetolil and Upper Ndolanya Beds, Laetoli.- 8 Carnivora.- 9 Proboscidea.- 10 Orycteropodidae.- 11 Rhinoceroses.- 12 Equidae.- 13 Suidae.- 14 Giraffidae.- 15 Bovidae
16 Amphibia and Squamata.- 17 Tortoises (Chelonii, Testudinidae).- 18 Aves.- 19 Beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera).- 20 Lepidoptera, Insecta.- 21 Trace fossils interpreted in relation to the extant termite fauna at Laetoli, Tanzania.- 22 Gastropoda.