The Shungura Formation is a stratigraphic formation located in the Omo river basin in Ethiopia. It dates to the Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene. Oldowan tools have been found in the formation, suggesting early use of stone tools by hominins. Among many others, fossils of Panthera were found in Member G of the formation.Sabol, 2011, p.230Boaz, N. T., Howell, F. C., & McCrossin, M. L. (1982). Faunal age of the Usno, Shungura B and Hadar Formations, Ethiopia. Nature, 300(5893), 633–635. https://doi.org/10.1038/300633A0

Geology The formation comprises sandstones, siltstones, claystones and tuff, deposited in a fluvial to deltaic lacustrine environment.

Paleobiota Fossil content

Among many others, the following fossils have been reported from the formation:ETE Locality 807, Omo - member G at Fossilworks.orgETE Locality 860, Omo - member C at Fossilworks.orgETE Locality 486, Omo - O.75 at Fossilworks.orgETE Locality 452, Omo - O.81, P.928 at Fossilworks.orgETE Locality 363, Omo - L.28 at Fossilworks.orgETE Locality 835, Omo - member G5 at Fossilworks.orgStewart, Kathlyn & Murray, Alison. (2008). Fish remains from the Plio-Pleistocene Shungura Formation, Omo River basin, Ethiopia. Geobios - GEOBIOS-LYON. 41. 283-295. 10.1016/j.geobios.2007.06.004.Sillen, A. (1986). Biogenic and Diagenetic Sr/Ca in Plio-Pleistocene Fossils of the Omo Shungura Formation. Paleobiology, 12(3), 311–323. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2400437Pallas, L., Daver, G., Merceron, G., & Boisserie, J. (2023, February 3). Postcranial anatomy of the long bones of colobines (Mammalia, Primates) from the Plio-Pleistocene Omo Group deposits (Shungura Formation and Usno Formation, 1967-2018 field campaigns, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia). https://doi.org/10.31233/osf.io/bwegt

Birds Birds of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes ImagesLeptoptilosL. falconeriLouchart, Antoine & Vignaud, Patrick & Likius, Andossa & Brunet, Michel & White, Tim. (2005). A large extinct marabou stork in African Pliocene hominid sites, and a review of the fossil species of Leptoptilos. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 50. 549-563. Member C8 and G A distal tibiotarsus, OMO−122−76−367, and pedal phalanx, F−516−23 A giant marabou stork

Mammals Afrotheres Hyracoidea

Hyraxes of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes Images GigantohyraxWesselman H. B. (1984) The Omo Micromammals: Systematics and Paleoecology of Early Man Sites from Ethiopia, Contributions to Vertebrate Evolution 17 G. maguireiSkinner, J. D.; Chimimba, Christian T. (2005). The Mammals of the Southern African Sub-region. Cambridge University Press. p. 41. ISBN 9781107394056. Retrieved 20 September 2022. Member B. A giant hyrax.

Proboscideans

Proboscideans of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes Images Loxodonta L. adaurora Member O Extinct species of African elephants. L. exoptata Member O Palaeoloxodon P. recki shungurensis Member A, B, C, D, and E. An extinct elephant species native to Africa.

Artiodactyls Bovids Bovids of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes Images Aepyceros A. shungurae Members B, C, D, E, F, and G Extinct relative of modern impala. Antidorcas A. recki Members B, C, D, E, F, G, and H. Extinct relative of modern springbok Beatragus B. antiquus Member G. Extinct relative of modern Hirola. Gazella G. praethomsoni Members F, G, and H. An early relative of gazelle.Kobus K. ancystrocera Members B, C, E, G, and J. Relatives of Reduncini K. ellipsiprymnus Members G, J, and K. K. oricornis K. sigmoidalis Members D, E, F, and G. Megalotragus M. sp. An alcelaphine. Menelikia M. lyrocera Members C, E, F, G, H, I, and J. An extinct reduncinae artiodactyl.PelorovisP. sp. Parmularius P. altidens Members G and H. An extinct relative of alcelaphine. Redunca R. sp. A reedbuck. SyncerusS. cf. acoelotus Members B, C, D, E, F, and G. A cape buffalo. S. ekosowan Members B (B-9 or B-10) and G (G-5) Complete cranium (OMO 50-10001) with both horn cores and dentition. Tragelaphus T. gaudryi Member F. Relative of spiral horned anterlope. T. nakuae

Camelids Camels of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes Images Camelus C. grattardiJohn Rowan, Pietro Martini, Likius Andossa, Gildas Merceron, Jean-Renaud Boisserie. New Pliocene remains of Camelus grattardi (Mammalia, Camelidae) from the Shungura Formation, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, and the evolution of African camels. Historical Biology, 2018, 31 (9), pp.1123-1134. ⟨10.1080/08912963.2017.1423485⟩. ⟨hal-02100346⟩ Lower member G (G4-G13).Distal humerus L1–68–76, maxilla fragment with heavily worn P4–M2 (Omo 75S-70–956); same individual as Omo 75–69–2222, M3. Extinct relative of Camels. C. sp.

Giraffidae Giraffids of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes ImagesGiraffa G. gracilisMembers D, E, F, and G. Extinct relative of modern giraffe. G. pygmaea Members G. G. jumae Sivatherium S. maurusium Member F. An extinct giraffid.

Hippopotamidae

Hippopotamids of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes ImagesHexaprotodon H. protoamphibius An extinct hippopotamid relative. H. shungurensis Member C A partial skull (calvarium and mandible)

Suidae Suidae of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes Images Kolpochoerus K. limnetes Members E, D, G, F, and H. An omnivorous pig.Metridiochoerus M. jacksoni Members E, F, and G. A giant warthog. M. modestus Members GNotochoerus N. euilus Members A, C. A tetraconodontinae suid. N. scottiWhite, T. D., & Suwa, G. (2004). A New Species of Notochoerus (Artiodactyla, Suidae) from the Pliocene of Ethiopia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 24(2), 474–480. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4524733 Members B, C, and HNyanzachoerus N. kanamensis Members A, B A tetraconodontinae suid.N. jaegeri Member A

Carnivora Carnivorans of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes Images EnhydriodonGROHÉ C., UNO K. & BOISSERIE J.-R. 2022. — Lutrinae Bonaparte, 1838 (Carnivora, Mustelidae) from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Lower Omo Valley, southwestern Ethiopia: systematics and new insights into the paleoecology and paleobiogeography of the Turkana otters. Comptes Rendus Palevol 2022 (30): 681-705. https://doi.org/10.5852/cr-palevol2022v21a30 E. omoensisGrohé, Camille & Uno, Kevin & Boisserie, Jean-Renaud. (2022). Lutrinae Bonaparte, 1838 (Carnivora, Mustelidae) from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Lower Omo Valley, southwestern Ethiopia: systematics and new insights into the paleoecology and paleobiogeography of the Turkana otters. 21. 681-705. 10.5852/cr-palevol2022v21a30. Member C. Right femur (L 183–14), fragmented mandible, and lower dentition. A giant otter about the size of a lion, the largest relative discovered in 2022.Dinofelis D. petteri Member A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.Damaged cranium and dentition fragments, OMO 1–768–3. A sabertooth cat. D. sp.Werdelin, Lars & Lewis, Margaret. (2001). A revision of the genus Dinofelis (Mammalia, Felidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 132. 147 - 258. 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2001.tb02465.x. Member A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.Postcranial skulls (OMO 28-67-1075 from Member B), craniodental, and dentition fragments.Helogale H. hirtula Extinct species of Mongoose family. H. kitafe Homotherium H. aethiopicum Members C and G.

Chiroptera Bats of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes ImagesHipposiderosH. kaumbului Member F. A Roundleaf bat.TaphozousT. abitus Member F. Extinct relative of tomb bats and sheath-tailed bats.

Eulipotyphla

Eulipotyphlas of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes Images Crocidura C. aithiopsSuncus S. haesaertsi Relatives of Shrews S. cf. lixus S. shungurensis

Lagomorphs

Lagomorphs of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes Images Lepus L. capensis Member E, and lower Members F and G.

Perissodactyls Chalicotheres Chalicotheres of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes ImagesAncylotheriumA. hennigiDenis Geraads. Faunal Change in Eastern Africa at the Oldowan – Acheulean Transition. The Emergence of the Acheulean in East Africa and Beyond: Contributions in Honor of Jean Chavaillon, In press. ffhalshs-01819105 Members D and G. Several tooth fragments and postcranial skeleton A chalicothere.

Rhinocerotidae Rhinocerotidaes of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes Images Ceratotherium C. simum Member A, B, C, D, E, J, K, L, and O. Multiple dentition, cranium, and postcranial skeletion. A white rhinoceros. Diceros D. bicornis Member A, B, D, L, K, and O. Complete Skull and Molars. A black rhinoceros.

Equidae Equids of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes Images Equus E. oldowayensisGilbert, William & Bernor, Raymond. (2009). Equidae. 10.1525/california/9780520251205.003.0006. Members F, G, H, I, and J. Jawbone mandible with complete dentition. An Olduvai zebra. Eurygnathohippus E. libycum Members C, E, F, G, and L. A Hipparionine horse. Hipparion H. sitifenseEisenmann, Véra. (1976). Equidae from the Shungura formation. Earliest Man and Environments in the Lake Rudolf Basin. 225-233. Members A, B, C, D, E, F, and G Multiple cheek teeth and fragmented dentition. Relatives of early horses.

Primates Cercopithecidae Cercopithecids of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes ImagesDinopithecusD. sp.Jablonski, Nina & Leakey, Meave & Anton, Mauricio. (2008). Systematic paleontology of the cercopithecines. The Fossil Monkeys. 6. 103-300.Gilbert, C. C. (2013). Cladistic analysis of extant and fossil African papionins using craniodental data. Journal of Human Evolution, 64(5), 399–433. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JHEVOL.2013.01.013 Paracolobus P. mutiwa Member C, E, and G. A skull, humerus and femur bone. An early Colobinae monkey. Rhinocolobus R. turkanaensis Member C, E, and G.Pallas, L., Daver, G., Merceron, G., & Boisserie, J. (2023, February 3). Postcranial anatomy of colobines (Mammalia, Primates) from the Plio-Pleistocene Omo Group deposits (Shungura Formation and Usno Formation, 1967-2018 field campaigns, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia). https://doi.org/10.31233/osf.io/bwegt A skull humerus and femur bone. An early Colobinae monkey.Theropithecus T. brumpti Members B, C, D, E, F, and G. A skullExtinct relative of Gelada Baboons. T. oswaldi Members D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, and L. A skull

Galagidae Galagids of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes ImagesOtolemurO. howelli Member B.L. 1-378 (right m2), L. 1-377 (holotype, left maxillary fragment) with P4-M1, and Omo 229-73-4018 (right mandibular fragment).Werdelin, Lars & Partridge, Timothy & Seiffert, Erik & Feakins, Sarah & Demenocal, Peter & Jacobs, Bonnie & Gunnell, Gregg & Holroyd, Patricia & Asher, Robert & Sanders, William & Rasmussen, David & Gutiérrez, Mercedes & Domning, Daryl & Winkler, Alisa & Avery, D. Margaret & Godinot, Marc & Harrison, Terry & Godfrey, Laurie & Jablonski, Nina & Cerling, Thure. (2010). Cenozoic Mammals of Africa. 10.1525/california/9780520257214.001.0001. Page: 344-345 Extinct relative of greater galago.

Hominins

Homonids of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes Images Australopithecus A. sp.ParanthropusP. aethiopicus Members C, D, E, and F.P. boisei Members G and K.

Rodents

Rodents of the Shungura Formation Taxa Species Locality Material Notes Images Aethomys A. deheinzelini a rock mouse.ArvicanthisA. sp.AcomysA. sp.GerbillusG. sp.HeterocephalusH. atikoiJaculusJ. orientalisMastomysM. minorParaxerusP. ochraceusPelomysP. sp.SaidomysS. sp.TateraT. sp.XerusX. sp.

Reptiles