Is there evidence for a Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis) in the Middle Stone Age of South Africa? - Comments on Stidham (2008)

Recently, a fossil Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis) was described from Middle Stone Age Plovers Lake Cave, South Africa.1 Because this species is now restricted to rainforests in the Congo Basin, it was concluded that the fossil indicates forested, or even rainforest, habitats in the vicinity of P...

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Main Authors: A. Manegold, A. Louchart
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academy of Science of South Africa 2009-09-01
Series:South African Journal of Science
Online Access:https://sajs.co.za/article/view/10251
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author A. Manegold
A. Louchart
author_facet A. Manegold
A. Louchart
author_sort A. Manegold
collection DOAJ
description Recently, a fossil Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis) was described from Middle Stone Age Plovers Lake Cave, South Africa.1 Because this species is now restricted to rainforests in the Congo Basin, it was concluded that the fossil indicates forested, or even rainforest, habitats in the vicinity of Plovers Lake Cave during the Pleistocene.1 The correct identification of the fossil specimen is, however, questionable, and the hypothesis of densely forested areas in this area 71 000 years ago is at odds with manifold evidence that grasslands and open woodlands predominated the palaeoenvironment in Pleistocene southern Africa.
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publisher Academy of Science of South Africa
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spelling doaj-art-f2fd6be47a6d4fa2ae793ff1effe496d2025-08-20T01:53:08ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892009-09-011059/103913918432Is there evidence for a Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis) in the Middle Stone Age of South Africa? - Comments on Stidham (2008)A. ManegoldA. LouchartRecently, a fossil Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis) was described from Middle Stone Age Plovers Lake Cave, South Africa.1 Because this species is now restricted to rainforests in the Congo Basin, it was concluded that the fossil indicates forested, or even rainforest, habitats in the vicinity of Plovers Lake Cave during the Pleistocene.1 The correct identification of the fossil specimen is, however, questionable, and the hypothesis of densely forested areas in this area 71 000 years ago is at odds with manifold evidence that grasslands and open woodlands predominated the palaeoenvironment in Pleistocene southern Africa.https://sajs.co.za/article/view/10251
spellingShingle A. Manegold
A. Louchart
Is there evidence for a Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis) in the Middle Stone Age of South Africa? - Comments on Stidham (2008)
South African Journal of Science
title Is there evidence for a Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis) in the Middle Stone Age of South Africa? - Comments on Stidham (2008)
title_full Is there evidence for a Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis) in the Middle Stone Age of South Africa? - Comments on Stidham (2008)
title_fullStr Is there evidence for a Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis) in the Middle Stone Age of South Africa? - Comments on Stidham (2008)
title_full_unstemmed Is there evidence for a Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis) in the Middle Stone Age of South Africa? - Comments on Stidham (2008)
title_short Is there evidence for a Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis) in the Middle Stone Age of South Africa? - Comments on Stidham (2008)
title_sort is there evidence for a congo peafowl afropavo congensis in the middle stone age of south africa comments on stidham 2008
url https://sajs.co.za/article/view/10251
work_keys_str_mv AT amanegold isthereevidenceforacongopeafowlafropavocongensisinthemiddlestoneageofsouthafricacommentsonstidham2008
AT alouchart isthereevidenceforacongopeafowlafropavocongensisinthemiddlestoneageofsouthafricacommentsonstidham2008