Ptolemaia Explained

Ptolemaia is a genus of extinct Afrotherian mammals from the Oligocene of East Africa.^[1] The genus and type species, P. lyonsi, was described by Henry Fairfield Osborn in 1908 from the Jebel Qatrani Formation of Egypts' Fayum Depression. The genus name alludes to the Ptolemaic dynasty of Ancient Greece which ruled over the Egyptian region where Ptolemaia was discovered, while the specific epithet lyonsi honors H. G. Lyons, then director of the Egyptian Geological Survey.^[2] A second species, P. grangeri, was described in 1987, and named after the early 20th century paleontologist Walter W. Granger.^[3] Fossils of P. grangeri are also known from Kenya.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Simons EL, Bown TM . Ptolemaiida, a new order of Mammalia–with description of the cranium of Ptolemaia grangeri . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA . 92 . 8 . 3269–73 . 1995 . 11607526 . 42147 . 10.1073/pnas.92.8.3269. 1995PNAS...92.3269S. free .
2. Osborn. H. F.. 1908. New fossil mammals from the Fayum Oligocene, Egypt. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 24. 265–272.
3. Bown. Thomas M.. Simons. Elwyn L.. New Oligocene Ptolemaiidae (Mammalia: ?Pantolesta) from the Jebel Qatrani Formation, Fayum Depression, Egypt. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 1987. 7. 3. 311–324. 10.1080/02724634.1987.10011662. 4523148. 1987JVPal...7..311B .
4. Miller. Ellen R.. Rasmussen. D. Tab. Kappelman. John. Friscia. Anthony R.. Muteti. Samuel N.. Gutierrez. Mercedes. Ptolemaia from West Turkana, Kenya. Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History. 2015. 56. 1. 81–88. 10.3374/014.056.0105. 131444959.