KOLPOCHOERUS

COMPARISONS BETWEEN KOLPOCHOERUS FROM SHUNGURA AND EXTANT SUIDS

Specimens of Kolpochoerus from Shungura show low values of complexity, being more similar to herbivorous genera Phacochoerus and Hylochoerus , and clearly distinct from Sus ( Fig. 3, Table 2; Appendix 12). Regarding anisotropy, specimens of Kolpochoerus show the lowest values and only partly overlap with the values observed on extant suids ( Fig. 3A;

Tables 1 View TABLE ; 2). Indeed, about half of the specimens of Kolpochoerus show anisotropy values that are lower than the first quartile of each extant suid samples ( Fig. 3A). They are well distinct from Phacochoerus ( Fig. 3A; Table 2; Appendix 15). When looking at the heterogeneity of complexity, Kolpochoerus also tend to show low mean and median values and are similar to Phacochoerus ( Fig. 3B; Table 1 View TABLE ). However, while Phacochoerus strongly differs from the three other extant genera, Kolpochoerus show some surfaces that are more heterogeneous than Phacochoerus and overlap with the three other taxa. Still, Kolpochoerus differs from Sus , which has the highest values ( Fig. 3B; Table 2; Appendix 13). Summary statistics of the total sample of Kolpochoerus are provided in Table 1 View TABLE .

DMTA AMONG KOLPOCHOERUS THROUGH THE SHUNGURA SEQUENCE

Through the sequence, no significant difference in the complexity of wear surfaces of Kolpochoerus is detected between members with both post-hoc tests, as well as in the heterogeneity of complexity. The complexity seems stable, except for specimens from members E and F that tend to display less complex surfaces ( Fig. 4; Tables 1 View TABLE ; 2). Compared to extant suids, specimens from members E, F and G show significantly less complex surfaces than Sus (p <0.03 with both post-hoc tests, Table 2; Appendix 12). When looking at HAsfc36, we observe increasing values from Member C to Member F, then a decrease from Member F to Member J, and again higher values in Member L. The most heterogeneous surfaces are found in members F and G ( Fig. 4; Tables 1 View TABLE ; 2). When compared to extant suids, Kolpochoerus are generally more similar to Phacochoerus in HAsfc36. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that specimens of Kolpochoerus from members F and G have less homogeneous surfaces than those of Phacochoerus , even though significant differences are only identified with LSD post-hoc test. In Member C, specimens of Kolpochoerus significantly differ from the three other extant genera (p <0.03 with both post-hoc tests,Table 2; Appendix 13). In members E and J, they significantly differ from Sus only (p <0.05 with both post-hoc tests, Table 2; Appendix 13). Regarding the anisotropy, mean and median values are stable within the sequence. Specimens from the lower part of Member G are slightly more anisotropic ( Fig. 4; Tables 1 View TABLE ; 2), but they significantly differ from members E and L only (p <0.02, Appendix 15). Compared to extant taxa, Kolpochoerus from all members except G strongly differ from herbivorous Phacochoerus (p <0.02, Table 2; Appendix 15). They also show less anisotropic surfaces than Hylochoerus , except in members G and J (p <0.02, Table 2; Appendix 15). Only specimens from members E and L show significantly less anisotropic surfaces than omnivorous genera Sus and Potamochoerus (p <0.02, Table 2; Appendix 15). Altogether, even though DMTA parameters do not reveal substantial changes between members, our results highlight some variations in dental microwear textures of Kolpochoerus within the sequence.