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Early late Paleocene mammals from the Roche Percée local fauna, southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada
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- Author / Creator
- Rankin, Brian
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The occurrence of vertebrate fossils from the Ravenscrag Formation near Roche Percée, southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada, documents the presence of a large and diverse assemblage of early late Paleocene (approximately 58 million years) mammals. Previous studies of the Roche Percée localities have examined only a small portion of the fauna, with the vast majority of taxa remaining undescribed. The current research centers on the identification, description and, where appropriate, evolutionary relationships of these undescribed mammals. Significant discoveries, to date, include two new species of the rare viverravid carnivoran Raphictis, a new species of the phenacodontid condylarth Ectocion, a large collection of a probable new species of the semi-aquatic pantolestid Palaeosinopa, and only the second known occurrence of the predominantly European lipotyphlan Adapisorex in North America. This research provides an improved understanding of mammalian diversity and evolution in the northern part of the Western Interior during this important time interval.
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- Subjects / Keywords
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- Graduation date
- Fall 2009
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master's of Science
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.