A protocol for differentiating late Quaternary leporids in southern California with remarks on Project 23 lagomorphs at Rancho La Brea, Los Angeles, California, USA
Author
Fox, Nathaniel S.
Author
Takeuchi, Gary T.
Author
Farrell, Aisling B.
Author
Blois, Jessica L.
text
PaleoBios
2022
46192
36
1
20
journal article
10.5070/P9361046192
0031-0298
SYLVILAGUS BACHMANI
WATERHOUSE 1839
Referred specimens
—
LACMP
23-32045, left dentary fragment with p3. The following specimens represent complete left p3s:
LACMP
23-29229,
LACMP
23-33861. The following specimens represent complete right p3s:
LACMP
23-28082,
LACMP
23-34262,
LACMP
23-35844,
LACMP
23-36615.
Remarks
—
Seven specimens
from Project 23 are assigned to
S. bachmani
based on simple p3 crenulation at the occlusal surface and base of the tooth, p3 lengths <
3.1 mm
, and a mean p3 l/w>1.25 (
Table 2
, Figs. 4, 5D). Since adult individuals of this species usually exhibit simple crenulation (Table 1; Fig. 4), it is difficult to identify juveniles from surface-base changes in crenulation complexity. However, specimens can be identified as juvenile if the width at the occlusal surface is less than the width at the tooth base (White 1991). Excluding potential juvenile p3s of
S
.
bachmani
from Project 23, the sample is ~11% smaller than recent
S
.
bachmani
(mean=
2.19mm
,
1.71mm
, and 1.28 for p3 length, width, and l/w respectively; Fig. 4; Appendix
Table 2
). Size changes between extant (n=30) and fossil (n=7)
S
.
bachmani
are statistically significant (t=2.8861, df=8.2077, p=0.0198 for p3 length; t=4.6124, df=12.923, p<0.001 for p3 width).