Home > Science Seminar > Spring 2006 Seminar Schedule > Pangolin
The Science Seminar Series: February 9, 2006
WHAT ON EARTH IS A PANGOLIN? THE EVOLUTION OF A VERY ODD ORDER OF MAMMALS
Dr. Tim Gaudin, Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences,
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
Powell Hall AuditoriumTime: 4:00 -5:00pm
Abstract
The mammalian order Pholidota, the pangolins or scaly anteaters, includes 7 living species of bizarre toothless, anteating, scale-covered mammals that are distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, India and southeast Asia. The group has a sparse fossil record that extends back almost 50 million years. I will be discussing two aspects of my research on this unusual group. First, I will discuss new investigations into the paleontological history of the group, namely, work to described virtually complete skeletons of the only North American pangolin, Patriomanis, from the late Eocene epoch (~33 million years ago) of Wyoming, as well a study describing a new fossil pangolin genus from the late Eocene (~40 million years ago) of Inner Mongolia in northern China. I will summarize the implications of this new fossil material for the anatomical, functional, and biogeographic history of the order as a whole. Secondly, I will address recent work on the systematics of the order Pholidota. I will discuss the relationships of the new fossil material to other known fossil pangolins and to modern forms. I will also discuss the relationships and taxonomy of the modern pangolins, the relationship of pangolins to other groups of mammals, and the biogeographic implications of this systematic study.