Suidae

Abstract

This contribution discusses over 200 suid ­specimens recovered from Laetoli by the Eyasi Plateau Paleontological Expedition (EPPE) between 1998 and 2005. Earlier collections from the site included just three taxa, Notochoerus euilus and Potamochoerus porcus from the Laetolil Beds, and Kolpochoerus limnetes (= heseloni) from the Upper Ndolanya Beds. In addition, the more recent collections establish the presence of Nyanzachoerus kanamensis and Notochoerus jaegeri in the Laetolil Beds and extend the range of Kolpochoerus heseloni into this earlier geological unit. Potamochoerus material from the Upper Laetolil Beds has been assigned to P. afarensis. Metridiochoerus andrewsi is present in the Upper Ndolanya Beds. The suid fauna can now be shown to be taxonomically similar to that from other comtemporaneous sites. The autecology of the suid taxa from Laetoli has implications for the paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the site, and suggests that a range of environments were present in the region.