Ardipithecus ramidus habitat

Small mammals in Ardi's habitat

Researchers identified 1127 specimens of small mammals. About 70% of them were attributed to Muridae family that contains various mice, rats, and gerbils. Majority of Muridae belonged to genus Uranomys (499 specimens). Currently, this genus contains only one species Uranomys ruudi (white-bellied brush-furred rat, 44%/499), insectivore, which is believed to be distributed throughout African continent but is rarely seen because of its nocturnal life style. Other Muridae were attributed to genera Praomys (African soft-furred mice and soft-furred mice, 10%/111), Golunda (13%/143), Tatera (large naked-sole gerbils, 54), extinct Saidomys (3%/37), Oenomys (rufous-nosed rats or rusty-nosed rats, 2%/24). A few remaining Muridae genera were represented by just a few specimens.

Other small mammals were represented by Insectivora family (8%/85), namely, shrews (Soricidae, 81) and hedgehogs (Erinaceidae, 4 specimens). Rarer found species indicate presence of more open savanna woodland econiches in Ardi's habitat: African naked-mole rats (Tachyoryctes, 4%/48), bats (Chiroptera, 3%/35), rabbits (Lagomorpha, 3%/32), Hystricidae (Old World porcupines, 2%/25), and Xerus (African ground squirrels, 2%/18).

Birds in Ardi's habitat

Taxa	Representatives; Abundance % (MNI); Total number of birds = 263	Notes: diet, habitat
Psittacidae	True parrots; 36% (22)	The diet of majority of parrots consists of seeds (most important ingredient), fruit, nectar, pollen, and buds.
Pavo (Phasianidae family)	Peafowl, peacocks; 15% (16)	Forest dwellers that nest and feed on the ground but roost in trees. Omnivorous and eat plant parts, flower petals, seed heads, insects and other arthropods, reptiles, and amphibians.
Columbidae	Doves and pigeons; 6% (13)	The family has adapted to most of the habitats available on the planet. The largest number of species is found in tropical forests and woodlands, where they may be arboreal, terrestrial or semi-terrestrial. Seeds and fruits form the major component of the diet.
Francolinus (Phasianidae family)	Francolin; 8% (10)	Terrestrial birds that feed on insects, vegetable matter and seeds. Majority of species found in Africa.
Tyto	Barn owls; 8% (7)	Hunts by flying low and slowly over an area of open ground. Feed primarily on small vertebrates, particularly rodents. May eat one or more rodents per night.
Anatidae	Ducks, geese, swans; 3% (8)	Associated with water, adapted to swimming. Usually herbivorous as adults, feeding on various water-plants, although some species also eat fish, mollusks, or aquatic invertebrates.
Falconiformes	Falcons, hawks, caracaras; 6% (7)	Birds of prey. Hunt by sight during the day or at twilight. Feeding on birds, mammals, reptiles, insects and carrion.
Numididae (Phasianidae family)	Guineafowl; 5% (7)	Insect and seed-eating, ground-nesting birds that resemble partridges.
Passeriformes	Perching birds, songbirds, sparrows; 6% (4)	One of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders, all kinds of diets and habitats are represented.
Otitidae	Bustards; 2% (3)	Large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes. Omnivorous. Nest on the ground.
Bucorvus	Ground-hornbills; <1% (2)	Endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Ground-dwellers. Feed on a wide variety of small vertebrates and invertebrates, including tortoises, lizards, spiders, beetles, and caterpillars; also consume carrion, some fruits, seeds, and groundnuts.
Coturnix (Phasianidae family)	Quails; <1% (2)	Small, plump terrestrial birds. Seed eaters but will also take insects and similar small prey. Nest on the ground and are capable of short, rapid bursts of flight.
Apodidae	Swifts; <1% (2)	The most aerial of birds. Eat flying insects such as flies, ants, and beetles.
Coliidae	Mousebirds; <1% (2)	Slender grayish or brown birds with soft, hair-like body feathers. Arboreal. Feed on berries, fruit and buds. All extant species live in Africa.

Large mammals (> 5 kg) in Ardi's habitat

Assemblage of larger mammals associated with Ardipithecus consists of ~4,000 cataloged specimens assigned to 42 species (6 of them were newly discovered) in 34 genera of 16 families. The analysis of the collection indicates prevalence of browsers and fruit eaters. Relative and absolute abundance are assessed by the number of identified animals (NISP) and the minimum number of individuals (MNI).

Species (Abundance: MNI-NISP)	Example of modern relatives	Generalized habitat and diet of modern species
Tragelaphini (24.5 - 38.7%)	Lesser Kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis)	The Lesser Kudu inhabits dry, flat, and densely thicketed areas, as well as woodlands and hilly land. It is rarely observed in open or cleared areas. Eats a diverse variety of bush and tree leaves, shoots and twigs, as well as, grasses, herbs, and fruits.
Cercopithecidae (30.0 - 29.1%) Kuseracolobus aramisi (17.0%) and Pliopapio alemui (12.3%)	Colobine monkeys and baboon-like monkeys	Colobine monkeys are medium-sized, arboreal monkeys with slender bodies and long tails. The diet can include leaves, stems, bark, flowers, buds, shoots, fruits, some aquatic plants, fruits and insects. Baboons are found in savannah, grassland steppe, and rainforest habitats. Quadrupedal, mainly terrestrial (however, Pliopapio alemui was smaller and mostly arboreal). Feed on fruits, tree gums, insects, eggs, seeds, flowers, grass, rhizomes, corms, roots, tubers and small vertebrates.
Giraffidae (3.6 - 1.5%)	Okapi and giraffe	Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) live in herds of up to 25 animals, which occupy large home ranges usually in relatively open savannas. Okapis (Okapia johnstoni) occur in the dense rainforests at middle elevations.
Simatherium (<5%)	Buffalo (Syncerus caffer)	Found in arid biomes, including areas with rivers, lakes, and swamps. Like dense cover, but are found in open woodlands as well. Herbivorous and grazing.
Neotragini (2.4 - 1.3%), Alcelaphini / Hippotragini (2.1 - 1.5%), Aepyceros (6.1 - 3.9%)	Dwarf African antelopes, for example klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus) Hartebeest and wildebeest / horse antelopes, similar to Oryx dammah Impala (Aepyceros melampus )	Assorted browsers and grazers.
Proboscidea (0.3 - 0.2%) Anancus (<5%) and Deinotherium (<5%)	African elephant (Loxodonta africana)	Occupy deserts, forests, savannas, river valleys and marshes. Feed on leaves, roots, bark, grasses and fruit.
Suidae (11.2 - 5.5%) such as Nyanzachoerus kanamensis (<5%), Nyanzachoerus jaegeri (<5%), and Kolpochoerus deheinzelini (<5%)	Similar to common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)	Found in open and wooded savannas, grass-steppes, and semi-deserts in Africa. Warthogs are primarily grazers but also feed on roots, berries, bark of young trees, and occasionaly carrion.
Hippopotamidae	Hippopotamus (0.8 - 1.7%)	Deep water with adjacent reed beds and grasslands. Folivorous, grazing on grasses growing along the banks of their river habitats. Hippopotamuses may very occasionally eat small animals or consume carrion.
Rhinocerotidae (5.0 - 7.0%)	White rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum )	Primarily open woodland with nearby open grassland, thick brush, and water. Grazers, feeding on grasses.
Perissodactyla: Eurygnathohippus (5.2 - 3.6%)	Tapir	Herbivorous, sheltering in thickets by day and emerging at night to feed in bordering areas of grasses or shrubs; eat the leaves, buds, twigs and fruits of low-growing, terrestrial plants and also consume aquatic vegetation.
Order Tubulidentata (0.6 - 1.7%)	Aardvark (Orycteropus afer )	Nocturnal. Occur in grassy plains, bushland, woodland, and savanna. The presence of sufficient quantities of ants and termites is important.
Order Carnivora (4.8 - 5.5%)	Otter (Enhydriodon) and bear (Agriotherium)	Small aquatic carnivore and large terrestrial carnivore.

References

Articles

• White TD et al. Macrovertebrate paleontology and the Pliocene habitat of Ardipithecus ramidus. Science. 2009 Oct 2;326(5949):87-93. PMID: 19810193
• Louchart A et al. Taphonomic, avian, and small-vertebrate indicators of Ardipithecus ramidus habitat. Science. 2009 Oct 2;326(5949):66e1-4. PMID: 19810192
• WoldeGabriel G et al. The geological, isotopic, botanical, invertebrate, and lower vertebrate surroundings of Ardipithecus ramidus. Science. 2009 Oct 2;326(5949):65e1-5. PMID: 19810193
• Animal Diversity Web (ADW)

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