A probable Pleistocene pangolin (Order: Pholidota) trackway from South Africa’s Cape south coast
A fossil trackway, attributed to a probable pangolin trackmaker, has been identified on a Pleistocene aeolianite surface of the Waenhuiskrans Formation in the Bosbokfontein Private Nature Reserve on South Africa’s Cape south coast. The trackway consists of eight tracks and two probable tail traces....
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| Language: | English |
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Academy of Science of South Africa
2025-03-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Science |
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| Online Access: | https://sajs.co.za/article/view/18687 |
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| author | Charles W. Helm Andrew S. Carr Hayley C. Cawthra #oma Daqm Jan C. De Vynck Pieter-Jan Gräbe /uce Nǂamce Clive R. Thompson |
| author_facet | Charles W. Helm Andrew S. Carr Hayley C. Cawthra #oma Daqm Jan C. De Vynck Pieter-Jan Gräbe /uce Nǂamce Clive R. Thompson |
| author_sort | Charles W. Helm |
| collection | DOAJ |
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A fossil trackway, attributed to a probable pangolin trackmaker, has been identified on a Pleistocene aeolianite surface of the Waenhuiskrans Formation in the Bosbokfontein Private Nature Reserve on South Africa’s Cape south coast. The trackway consists of eight tracks and two probable tail traces. This appears to be the first description of a pangolin trackway in the global fossil record. The trackway was probably registered during Marine Isotope Stage 6 or 5. Trackway assessment and interpretation involved the integration of indigenous African and Western-based ichnological approaches, leading to a reasonably confident conclusion on the probable trackmaker’s identity. Alternative trackmakers (felids, viverrids and canids) were considered, but excluded or regarded as less likely candidates. There are three Cenozoic body fossil records of pangolins from the southwestern Cape, which have been assigned to the giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea). Only Temminck’s pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) currently occurs in southern Africa. All eight extant pangolin species are considered to be threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Significance:
• A Pleistocene probable pangolin trackway has been identified east of Still Bay, Western Cape Province, South Africa.
• The identification involved integrating indigenous African and Western-based ichnological approaches.
• This appears to be the first known fossilised pangolin trackway.
• The trackway consists of eight tracks and two probable tail traces.
• This discovery could draw attention to the plight of pangolins.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2d3d67fec22548b395594c6df8a68e09 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1996-7489 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Science of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-2d3d67fec22548b395594c6df8a68e092025-08-20T02:48:19ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892025-03-011213/410.17159/sajs.2025/18687A probable Pleistocene pangolin (Order: Pholidota) trackway from South Africa’s Cape south coastCharles W. Helm0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7995-8809Andrew S. Carr1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5794-6428Hayley C. Cawthra2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6101-5543#oma Daqm3https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8022-4729Jan C. De Vynck4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1044-4046Pieter-Jan Gräbe5https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1192-4571/uce Nǂamce6https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3783-8501Clive R. Thompson7https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3864-5923African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South AfricaSchool of Geography, Geology and the Environment, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK1.African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa; 2.Minerals and Energy Unit, Council for Geoscience Western Cape Regional Office, Cape Town, South AfricaNyae Nyae Conservancy, Tsumkwe, NamibiaEvolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaAfrican Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South AfricaNyae Nyae Conservancy, Tsumkwe, NamibiaAfrican Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa A fossil trackway, attributed to a probable pangolin trackmaker, has been identified on a Pleistocene aeolianite surface of the Waenhuiskrans Formation in the Bosbokfontein Private Nature Reserve on South Africa’s Cape south coast. The trackway consists of eight tracks and two probable tail traces. This appears to be the first description of a pangolin trackway in the global fossil record. The trackway was probably registered during Marine Isotope Stage 6 or 5. Trackway assessment and interpretation involved the integration of indigenous African and Western-based ichnological approaches, leading to a reasonably confident conclusion on the probable trackmaker’s identity. Alternative trackmakers (felids, viverrids and canids) were considered, but excluded or regarded as less likely candidates. There are three Cenozoic body fossil records of pangolins from the southwestern Cape, which have been assigned to the giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea). Only Temminck’s pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) currently occurs in southern Africa. All eight extant pangolin species are considered to be threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Significance: • A Pleistocene probable pangolin trackway has been identified east of Still Bay, Western Cape Province, South Africa. • The identification involved integrating indigenous African and Western-based ichnological approaches. • This appears to be the first known fossilised pangolin trackway. • The trackway consists of eight tracks and two probable tail traces. • This discovery could draw attention to the plight of pangolins. https://sajs.co.za/article/view/18687pangolinfossil tracksaeolianitesCape south coastPleistocene |
| spellingShingle | Charles W. Helm Andrew S. Carr Hayley C. Cawthra #oma Daqm Jan C. De Vynck Pieter-Jan Gräbe /uce Nǂamce Clive R. Thompson A probable Pleistocene pangolin (Order: Pholidota) trackway from South Africa’s Cape south coast South African Journal of Science pangolin fossil tracks aeolianites Cape south coast Pleistocene |
| title | A probable Pleistocene pangolin (Order: Pholidota) trackway from South Africa’s Cape south coast |
| title_full | A probable Pleistocene pangolin (Order: Pholidota) trackway from South Africa’s Cape south coast |
| title_fullStr | A probable Pleistocene pangolin (Order: Pholidota) trackway from South Africa’s Cape south coast |
| title_full_unstemmed | A probable Pleistocene pangolin (Order: Pholidota) trackway from South Africa’s Cape south coast |
| title_short | A probable Pleistocene pangolin (Order: Pholidota) trackway from South Africa’s Cape south coast |
| title_sort | probable pleistocene pangolin order pholidota trackway from south africa s cape south coast |
| topic | pangolin fossil tracks aeolianites Cape south coast Pleistocene |
| url | https://sajs.co.za/article/view/18687 |
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