TY - JOUR
T1 - Characteristics of Pleistocene megafauna extinctions in Southeast Asia
AU - Louys, Julien
AU - Curnoe, Darren
AU - Tong, Haowen
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - The extinction of large-bodied taxa from the Pleistocene in Southeast Asia is examined. Although the chronological resolution
of these extinctions is poor, and number of excavations in the region relatively few, broad characteristics of these extinctions can be
described. Many taxa which became extinct appear to have been endemic to regions within Southeast Asia, while some taxa which
experienced extinction or severe range reduction occurred in several regions. Members of the latter group include proboscideans
(
Stegodon
and
Palaeloxodon
), the pygmy hippopotamus (
Hexaprotodon
), the orangutan (
Pongo
), hyenas (
Crocuta
and
Hyaena
),
the giant panda (
Ailuropoda
), tapirs (
Tapirus
and
Megatapirus
), rhinoceroses (
Rhinoceros
), and the giant Asian ape
Giganto-
pithecus
. The loss of these species cannot be assigned to a single cause. Rather their disappearance is likely tied to both climatic
and human agents. Unlike other regions which experienced megafauna extinctions, eustatic changes in sea level in Southeast Asia
seems to have been an important factor.
AB - The extinction of large-bodied taxa from the Pleistocene in Southeast Asia is examined. Although the chronological resolution
of these extinctions is poor, and number of excavations in the region relatively few, broad characteristics of these extinctions can be
described. Many taxa which became extinct appear to have been endemic to regions within Southeast Asia, while some taxa which
experienced extinction or severe range reduction occurred in several regions. Members of the latter group include proboscideans
(
Stegodon
and
Palaeloxodon
), the pygmy hippopotamus (
Hexaprotodon
), the orangutan (
Pongo
), hyenas (
Crocuta
and
Hyaena
),
the giant panda (
Ailuropoda
), tapirs (
Tapirus
and
Megatapirus
), rhinoceroses (
Rhinoceros
), and the giant Asian ape
Giganto-
pithecus
. The loss of these species cannot be assigned to a single cause. Rather their disappearance is likely tied to both climatic
and human agents. Unlike other regions which experienced megafauna extinctions, eustatic changes in sea level in Southeast Asia
seems to have been an important factor.
U2 - 10.1016/j.palaeo.2006.07.011
DO - 10.1016/j.palaeo.2006.07.011
M3 - Article
SN - 0031-0182
VL - 243
SP - 152
EP - 173
JO - Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
JF - Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
IS - 1-2
ER -