DOCSLIB.ORG

Taxonomic Studies on Fossil Remains of Ruminants from Tertiary

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Taxonomic Studies on Fossil Remains of Ruminants from Tertiary TAXONOMY AND DENTAL MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF FOSSIL ARTIODACTYLS FROM TYPE LOCALITY OF DHOK PATHAN, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN MAHBOOB IQBAL DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF THE PUNJAB LAHORE, PAKISTAN 2010 TAXONOMY AND DENTAL MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF FOSSIL ARTIODACTYLS FROM TYPE LOCALITY OF DHOK PATHAN, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN By MAHBOOB IQBAL A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF Doctor of Philosophy In the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan Supervisor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akhtar Co-Supervisor Dr. Muhammad Akbar Khan DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF THE PUNJAB LAHORE, PAKISTAN August, 2010 DEDICATION DEDICATED WITH LOVE TO MY PARENTS MY FAMILY (DR. SAMINA, UMAR & HADEEQA) AND ALL THOSE WHO LOVE, CARE AND PRAY FOR ME. ABSTRACT A taxonomic investigation of Late Miocene artiodactyl fauna of Dhok Pathan, the Middle Siwaliks, Pakistan, was undertaken. Comparative morphometric features of the late Miocene artiodactyls from the locality are studied in this thesis. The late Miocene artiodactyls are presented on the basis of description of abundant material from the Dhok Pathan type locality of the Dhok Pathan Formation, the Middle Siwaliks and the remains increasingly indicate taxonomic diversity. Quantitatively, the taxa of bovids are the most predominant. But cervids, tragulids, giraffids and suids are approximately as common as each other at Dhok Pathan. More than 130 artiodactyl fossil specimens were studied in this thesis from the Dhok Pathan type locality. All the described specimens include Skulls, horn cores, isolated teeth and fragments of maxillae or mandibles. These fossils document twenty three artiodactyl species belonging to fifteen genera and five families. This assemblage includes two new taxa: Miotragocerus large sp. and ?Hydaspitherium sp. Boselaphines, antilopines, reduncines, cervids, tragulids, giraffids and suids are abundant in the locality whereas tragelaphines and alcelaphines are absent. Biogeographically, the late Miocene artiodactyls indicate strong relationships with Eurasian and African late Miocene sites. In this study, paleoenvironmental interpretations of the type locality provide important evidence regarding late Miocene paleoenvironments. Most of these taxa indicate a predominance of woodland to savannah habitat during the deposition of the Dhok Pathan Formation. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS All praises with my deepest gratitude to Almighty Allah, whose uniqueness, oneness and wholeness in unchallengeable. All and every respect is for His Holy Prophet HAZRAT MOHAMMAD (Peace Be Upon Him), who enlightened us to understand the mystery of life. I acknowledge the depth of my gratitude and heart full thanks to highly learned and respected project Design Supervisor professor Dr. Mohammad Akhtar, Department of Zoology university of the Punjab under whose auspices I took a stride in completion of this work. He is also thanked for granting permission to use some bovids, suids, material collected by him and housed in the Dr. Abu Bakr Fossil Display and Research Centre and Paleontology laboratory of the university of the Punjab for this study. I feel great pleasure and honour to express my deep sense of gratitude to my respected and genius Co Supervisor Dr. Mohammad Akbar Khan assistant Professor Zoology GC University, Faisalabad for their constructive suggestions, guidance and encouragement during my research project. I feel highly privileged in taking the opportunity to thank Professor Dr. Asif Mehmood Qureshi, Prof. Mirza Afzal Baig and Prof. Abdul Qayyum Khan of Zoology Department Govt. College of Science Wahdat Road Lahore, for their moral support and encouragement and interest during the course of this work. I owe special thanks to Dr. Abdul majid Khan, Dr. Umar Farooq and Dr. Abdul Ghaffar who supported me at every critical stage during the course of my research project. I am also thankful to Mr. Abdul Rauf Malik Associate Prof. of Zoology Govt. College Talagang (Chakwal) providing Base Camp for the fossil Collection. I sincerely thank to Mr. sajjid Shah, Mr. Maqsood Ahmed and Mr. Abdul Razzaq for joining me in field trips, for the fossil collection and for serving me in the laboratory. Mr. Adeeb Babar is thanked for his help with the preparation for the maps and photographs. MAHBOOB IQBAL Dated: August, 2010 i LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Ca Circa Myr Million years Ma Million years ago MN European Mammal Neogene zone scale GPTS Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale GRTS Geomagnetic Reversal Time Scale DP1-DP17 Localities of Dhok Pathan from numbers1 to 17 AMNH American Museum of Natural History BMNH British Museum of Natural History PMNH Pakistan Museum of Natural History PUPC logy, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan. PC-GCUF Palaeontological Collection of GC University, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. P or p Upper or lower premolar M or m upper or lower molar GSI Geological survey of India GSP Geological Survey of Pakistan DP Deciduous Premolar W/L Width/Length ratio Fms/Fm Formations/Formation. r Right l Left mm Millimeters ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Table of Contents List of Tables List of Figures Chapter 1 Introduction Geography Geology Stratigraphy and Chronology Biostratigraphy Siwalik Artiodactyls Objectives of Present Study Thesis Layout Chapter 2 Materials and Methods iii Taxonomic Description Chapter 3 Systematic Palaeontology Family Bovidae Tragoportax Tragoportax punjabicus Tragoportax browni Tragoportax cf. salmontanus Miotragocerus Miotragocerus large sp. Miotragocerus cf. gluten Pachyportax Pachyportax latidens Pachyportax cf. nagrii Selenoportax Selenoportax cf. vexillarius Prostrepsiceros Prostrepsiceros cf. vinayaki Gazella Gazella lydekkeri Kobus Kobus porrecticornis cf. Kobikeryx sp. Caprotragoides Caprotragoides cf. potwaricus Family Cervidae iv Cervus Cervus cf. sivalensis Cervus cf. triplidens Family Tragulidae Dorcatherium Dorcatherium majus Dorcabune Dorcabune anthracotherioides Dorcabune cf. nagrii Family Giraffidae Hydaspitherium Hydaspitherium cf. megacephalum Hydaspitherium cf. grande ?Hydaspitherium sp. Family Suidae Propotamochoerus Propotamochoerus hysudricus Hippopotamodon ?Hippopotamodon sp. Chapter 4 Palaeoenvironment and Paleobiogeography of the Dhok Pathan Artiodactyls Chapter 5 Conclusions References v Appendices LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Mammalian faunas of Dhok Pathan. Many species are under taxaonomic revision. Table 2: Comparison of the cranial measurements (mm) of the Siwalik Tragoportax. Table 3: Comparative measurements of the cheek teeth of T. punjabicus in mm. Table 4: Comparative measurements of the cheek teeth of T. browni Pilgrim in mm. Table 5: Comparative measurements of the cheek teeth of Miotragocerus sp. and Miotragocerus gluten (Pilgrim, 1937) in mm. Table 6: Comparative measurements of the cheek teeth of P. latidens (Lydekker) Pilgrim in mm. Table 7: Comparative measurements of the cheek teeth of S. cf. vexillarius in mm. Table 8: Comparative measurements (mm) of the cheek teeth of G. lydekkeri. Table 9: Comparative measurements of the cheek teeth of the Siwalik Cervus in mm. Table 10: Comparative measurements of the cheek teeth of D. majus and D. minus in mm (millimeters). vi Table 11: Comparative measurements of the cheek teeth of Dorcabune anthracotherioides and D. nagrii in mm. Table 12: Comparative measurements of the lower cheek teeth of the giraffids in the Dhok Pathan type locality. Table 13: Comparative measurements of the cheek teeth of Propotamochoerus hysudricus and ?Hippopotamodon sp. in mm (millimeters). APPENDICES Appendix 1: List of the studied artiodactyls from Dhok Pathan. Appendix 2: Studied material. Appendix 3: The published article. LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. A. Location of the Potwar Plateau in northern Pakistan; the studied areas are encircled. B. Simplified geology map of the Dhok Pathan area indicating the fossiliferous localities around the Dhok Pathan Rest House (DP – abbreviation for Dhok Pathan) from where the studied material is recovered. Figure 2. Percentage of species represented in the Dhok Pathan mammalian fauna. Figure 3. Tragoportax punjabicus. 1. PUPC 86/149 opisthocranium: a) dorsal view, b) ventral view, c) occipital view. 2. PUPC 86/150 opisthocranium: ventral view. Scale bar equals 30 mm total. Figure 4. Tragoportax punjabicus. 3. PUPC 86/264 left horn core: a) lateral view, b) medial view. Scale bar equals 30 mm total. Figure 5. Tragoportax punjabicus. 4. PUPC 08/126 palatine parts of both maxillae with right P3-M3 and left P2-M3: occlusal view. 5. PUPC 83/275 right maxillary fragment with P3-M3. 6. PUPC 97/12 left mandible fragment with p2-p4. 7. PUPC 83/277 left mandible vii fragment with m3. a) occlusal view, b) lingual view, c) labial view. Scale bar equals 30 mm total. Figure 6. Tragoportax browni. 1. PUPC 86/204 opisthocranium: a) dorsal view, b) ventral view, c) occipital view. Scale bar equals 30 mm total. Figure 7. Tragoportax browni. 2. PC-GCUF 09/11 horn core, side indeterminate: a) anterior view, b) posterior view, c) medial view, d) lateral view. Scale bar equals 30 mm total. Figure 8. Tragoportax browni. 3. PUPC 86/151 left maxillary fragment with M1-M2. 4. PUPC 83/265 left mandible fragment with m2-m3. a) occlusal view, b) lingual view, c) labial view. Scale bar equals 30 mm total. Figure 9. Tragoportax cf. salmontanus. 1. PUPC 93/20 left horn core: a) anterior view, b) posterior view, c) medial view. Scale bar equals 30 mm total. Figure 10. Scatter diagram showing horn-cores and dental proportions of the
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Original Giraffokeryx Punjabiensis (Artiodactyla, Ruminantia, Giraffidae) from Lower Siwaliks (Chinji Formation) of Dhok Bun
    Original Giraffokeryx punjabiensis (Artiodactyla, Ruminantia, Giraffidae) from Lower Siwaliks (Chinji Formation) of Dhok Bun Ameer Khatoon, Pakistan Khizar Samiullah1*, Muhammad Akhtar2, Abdul Ghaffar3, Muhammad Akbar Khan4 Received : 28 January 2011 ; Accepted : 13 September 2011 Abstract Fossil remains of Giraffokeryx punjabiensis (premolar and molar teeth belonging to the upper and lower jaws) have been collected and discussed from Chinji Formation of Dhok Bun Ameer Khatoon (32o 47’ 26.4” N, 72° 55’ 35.7” E). All these (twenty one) specimens are isolated teeth, which provide new data and give valuable information on the biostratigrphy and paleoecology of Giraffokeryx punjabiensis as well as the stratigraphy and paleoclimates of these Miocene rocks of the Chakwal district, Pakistan. Keywords: Giraffokeryx punjabiensis, isolated teeth, Chinji Formation, biostratigraphy Miocene rocks, Chakwal district. Introduction Dhok Bun Ameer Khatoon (DBAK) is poorly known fossil ramii and a number of isolated teeth. Mathew4 studied site of the Siwaliks. Previous pioneer workers 1,2,3,4,5 did the material of this species at the Indian Museum, not visit this site nor mentioned it in their faunal list. Kolkata (Calcutta), and recognized a larger and a During the last decade, this site had got attraction of smaller form. However, Colbert5 suggested there was researchers when few fossils were unearthed during a continuous size gradation of the dental material of the mechanical work for construction of dam for water the species through the Chinji to the Nagri Formation storage purposes. Girafids, bovids, tragulids, suids, and therefore that no such size division exists in the hominids, rhinos, chilothers anthracothers and carnivors material of the genus Giraffokeryx.
    [Show full text]
  • ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ ΗΛΙΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ Phd University of Leicester
    ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ ΗΛΙΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ PhD University of Leicester Επίκουρος Καθηγητής Τμήματος Γεωλογίας Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών Βιογραφικό Σημείωμα Σπουδές – Τίτλοι – Δημοσιεύσεις, Ερευνητικό και Εκπαιδευτικό Έργο ΠΑΤΡΑ, ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ 2018 1 ΠΕΡΙΕΧΟΜΕΝΑ Α. Βιογραφικά στοιχεία............................................................................................. 3 I. Προσωπικά στοιχεία……………………………………......…………….…….......3 II. Σπουδές – Τίτλοι……..……………………………………………......................... 3 III. Διδακτορική Διατριβή……………………..…………………………….................. 3 IV. Υποτροφίες – Ακαδημαϊκά βραβεία……….……..……………….…………........ 4 V. Ξένες γλώσσες……….….……………………………………….……………........ 4 VI. Επαγγελματική εξέλιξη..……………………..……………………………............. 4 VII. Διοικητικό έργο………..…………...………………………………………….......... 5 VIII. Άλλες δραστηριότητες……………………………………………..……................ 5 Β. Διδακτική δραστηριότητα......................................................................................6 I. Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών……………………………………….……….........………. 6 II. Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης..…………………………………..…………………..........12 III. University College Northampton.………………………….………………..........14 IV. University of Leicester…………..………………………………………...............14 V. Εθνικό & Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών…………..……………...…....14 Γ. Ερευνητική δραστηριότητα..................................................................................15 I. Τομείς έρευνας………………………...………………….……….........………... 15 II. Τρέχουσα ερευνητική δραστηριότητα...……………….………………….......… 15 III. Συμμετοχή σε ερευνητικά προγράμματα……………….……………………….
    [Show full text]
  • GC University Lahore
    GC University Lahore PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL STUDY OF PAKISTAN SIWALIKS Name: MUHAMMAD TARIQ Session: 2007-2010 Roll No: 05-GCU-PHD-Z-07 Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Nusrat Jahan Department: Zoology PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL STUDY OF PAKISTAN SIWALIKS Submitted to GC University Lahore in fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology by Name: MUHAMMAD TARIQ Session: 2007-2010 Roll No: 05-GCU-PHD-Z-07 Department of Zoology GC University Lahore DEDICATION This work is dedicated to MY LOVING PARENTS (Gulzar Ahmad and Sugran Abdullah) through whom I acquired indefatigable temperament, morality, and determination for achieving objectives in every walk of life MY YOUNGER BROTHERS (Muhammad Yasin and Muhammad Noor-ul-Amin) who gave hope and strength to meet with the challenges of life MY YOUNGER SISTERS Zainab Gulzar, Shahida Gulzar and Shakeela Gulzar for their care, affection and cooperation MY DEAREST DAUGHTER (Kashaf Tariq) who proved great blessing for achieving goals of my life ALL GREAT SOULS who pursue their dreams with persistent efforts to make this world a better place to live in DECLARATION I, Mr. Muhammad Tariq Roll No. 05-GCU-PHD-Z-07 student of PhD in the subject of Zoology session: 2007-2010, hereby declare that the matter printed in the thesis titled “Palaeoenvironmental Study of Pakistan Siwaliks” is my own work and has not been printed, published and submitted as research work, thesis or publication in any form in any University, Research Institution etc in Pakistan or abroad. ________________ _____________________ Dated Signatures of Deponent RESEARCH COMPLETION CERTIFICATE Certified that the research work contained in this thesis titled “Palaeoenvironmental Study of Pakistan Siwaliks” has been carried out and completed by Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Sivatherium (Artiodactyla, Ruminantia, Giraffidae) from the Upper Siwaliks, Pakistan
    Khan et al. The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 21(2): 2011, Page: J.202 Anim.-206Plant Sci. 21(2):2011 ISSN: 1018-7081 SIVATHERIUM (ARTIODACTYLA, RUMINANTIA, GIRAFFIDAE) FROM THE UPPER SIWALIKS, PAKISTAN A. A. Khan, M. A. Khan*, M. Iqbal**, M. Akhtar*** and M. Sarwar*** Institute of Pure & Applied Biology, Zoology Division, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan *Zoology Department, GC University, Faisalabad, **Zoology Department, Government College Science, Wahdat Road, Lahore ***Zoology Department, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Punjab University, Lahore Correspondence author e-mail: <[email protected]>; ABSTRACT A complete lower molar series of giraffid remains from the Pleistocene locality of the village Sardhok (Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan) has been identified as belonging to Sivatherium sp. The comparison of the material was made with several Siwalik representatives of the giraffids. The giraffid Sivatherium is a gigantic giraffid found in the early Pleistocene sediments of the Upper Siwaliks. The village Sardhok locality has yielded one of the best collections of Giraffidae from the early Pleistocene of the Siwaliks. The locality belongs to the Pinjor Formation of the Upper Siwaliks (2.6-0.6 Ma). Key words: Giraffids, Sivatherium, Upper Siwaliks, Pleistocene, Pinjor Formation. INTRODUCTION The material described here comes from the outcrops of the village Sardhok, Gujrat district, Punjab, The fossil Chinese record shown by Bohlin Pakistan. In the Potwar Plateau, the Upper Siwalik is well (1927) and that of Asia shown by Colbert (1935) exposed in the Pabbi hills situated in the east of the River indicates that the giraffids had their origin in the Jhelum. The village Sardhok is situated in these low Holarctic Region.
    [Show full text]
  • Discovery of a Bramatherium (Giraffid) Horn-Core From
    Geol. Bull. Punjab Univ. Vol. 40-41, 2005-6, pp 21-25 21 DISCOVERY OF A BRAMATHERIUM (GIRAFFID) HORN CORE FROM THE DHOK PATHAN FORMATION (MIDDLE SIWALIKS) OF HASNOT, POTWAR PLATEAU, PAKISTAN MUHAMMAD AKBAR KHAN, MUHAMMAD AKHTAR Department of Zoology, Quid-e-Azam Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore (54590), Pakistan Email: [email protected] AND MUHAMMAD ANWAR QURESHI Institute of Geology, University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Muzaffrabad, Pakistan Abstract: The recent collection from Hasnot has brought about the discovery of a horn core belongs to a gigantic Upper Tertiary giraffe. The giraffids are abundant in the Upper Tertiary rocks of the Siwaliks and mostly diverse in the Tertiary rocks of Hasnot and Dhok Pathan. The studied specimen is found from the locality H 7 situated at 4 kilo meters west of the Hasnot village. INTRODUCTION giraffids (Bohlin, 1926) and has already been noted in Middle Miocene ones (Gentry et al., 1999). The Hasnot The Late Miocene to early Pleistocene deposited in the village (Lat. 32° 49′ N: Long. 73° 18′ E) is situated at elongated foreland basin of the Himalayas are well known about 70 km west of the Jhelum city in the Potwar Plateau and have been studied intensively for many years of the northern Pakistan (Fig. 1). The village is (Biswas, 1994; Behrensmeyer et al., 1997). Although surrounded by extensive Neogene freshwater sedimentary Tertiary Vertebrate remains have been known from the rocks. The region of the Hasnot exposes the most Siwaliks for more than a century however there had been complete sequence of the Siwalik Group and yields a mostly foreigners who collected the remains (Falconer diversified assemblage of the Middle Siwalik Formation.
    [Show full text]
  • Giraffa (Giraffidae, Mammalia) from the Lower Siwaliks of Pakistan
    Aftab et al., The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 26(3): 2016, Page:J.833 Anim.-841 Plant Sci. 26(3):2016 ISSN: 1018-7081 GIRAFFA (GIRAFFIDAE, MAMMALIA) FROM THE LOWER SIWALIKS OF PAKISTAN K. Aftab1*, M. A. Khan2, M. A. Babar2, Z. Ahmad1 and M. Akhtar2 1 Zoology Department, GC University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan 2 Dr. Abu Bakr Fossil Display and Research Centre, Zoology Department, Quid-e-Azam Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan Corresponding author Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT New remains of Giraffa priscilla are recorded from the Middle Miocene localities of Pakistan. The material originates from Chinji Rest House, Rakh Wasnal, Dhok Bun Amir Khatoon, Dhulian, Ghungrilla, Dial, Lava, Phadial, Bhelomar and Ratial. These localities are also well known for the rich Middle Miocene mammalian fauna of the Siwaliks. The estimated age of these localities is 14.2–11.2 Ma, belonging to the Chinji Formation of the Lower Siwaliks. The findings contribute to our understanding of the presence of this species in the Middle Miocene of Pakistan. Key words: Mammalia, Vertebrates, Giraffa priscilla, Miocene, Siwaliks. INTRODUCTION Wynn et al., 2006). Giraffa pygmaea was smaller than G. camelopardalis and G. stillei. It has been recognized Siwalik Hills are famous for its mammalian from Ethiopia, Kenya and Malawi (Taieb et al., 1976; fossil fauna (Pilgrim, 1910, 1911, 1913; Matthew, 1929; Kalb et al., 1982; Harris, 1991; Schrenk et al., 1993; Colbert, 1935; Sarwar, 1977; Thomas, 1984; Akhtar, Bromage et al., 1995). Giraffa stillei was larger than G. 1992; Barry et al., 2002; Bhatti et al., 2007, 2012a, b; jumae and G.
    [Show full text]
  • Liebe ID-Freunde
    [Back to internetlibrary.html] Wolf-Ekkehard Lönnig 8 May 2007 (last update 16 October 2010), updates 27 Oct. 2007 with Appendix on Cameron & du Toit 2007: "Winning by a Neck…" pp .62-78; 5 Oct. 2008 some language corrections and a brief comment on Brown et al. 2007: "Extensive population genetic structure in the giraffe" on p. 79. The Evolution of the Long-Necked Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis L.) What do we really know? (Part 2) As for Part 1, see http://www.weloennig.de/Giraffe.pdf Some Questions, Facts and Quotations to Supplement Part 1 Repetitio est mater studiorum –Repetition is the best teacher (literally: the mother of studies) Summary Introduction: the story which is commonly taught in high schools about the evolution of the long- necked giraffe by natural selection (feeding-competition-hypothesis) fails to explain, among other things, the size differences between males and females. Giraffe cows are up to 1.5 meters shorter than the giraffe bulls, not to mention the offspring. The wide migration range of the giraffe and the low heights of the most common plants in their diet likewise argue against the dominant selection hypothesis. Now to the main points: 1) The fossil „links“, which according to the theory should appear successively and replace each other, usually exist simultaneously for long periods of time. 2) Evolutionary derivations based on similarities rely on circular reasoning (to refer once more to Kuhn's statement) 3) The giraffe has eight cervical vertebrae. Although the 8th vertebra displays almost all the characteristics of a neck vertebra, as an exception to the rule the first rib pair is attached there.
    [Show full text]
  • Online First Article
    Pakistan J. Zool., pp 1-10, 2021. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20180805150835 New Fossil Remains of Giraffids from the Lower Siwaliks of Punjab, Pakistan: Evolution, Systematics and Biogeography Amin Arif1, Khizar Samiullah1*, Riffat Yasin2, Bilal Rasool1, Shakila Naz1, Xijun Ni3 and Saleem Akhtar1 1 Department of Zoology, GC University, Faisalabad, Pakistan Article Information 2Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Received 05 August 2018 Revised 29 May 2019 Agriculture, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan Accepted 05 November 2020 3Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology, Beijing, China Available online 09 February 2021 Authors’ Contribution ABSTRACT KS, RY and XN presented the concept and designed the study. AA, Taxonomic study from a late Miocene Fossil locality Dhok Bun Ameer Khatoon, Lower Siwalik Hills SA and SN helped in collection and of Pakistan has been conducted. New fossil remains belong to family Giraffidae which include right and preparation of fossils. KS and BR drafted the manuscript. left maxilla, isolated upper premolars and molars. After morphological and comparative analysis, the collection is attributed to Giraffokeryx punjabiensis and Giraffa priscilla. Size variation in dentition is Key words taxonomically important for vertebrate evolutionary point of view and this is the main reason to conduct Miocene, Giraffidae, Lower siwaliks, this study at this specific site to add additional information about family Giraffidae. The fossil site has well Chinji formation exposed Chinji and Nagri Formation and has dated approximately 14.2-9.5 Ma. In this study, different aspects of evolution, taxonomy and biogeographic distribution as well as the relation of Giraffidae with Procerotidae have been discussed comprehensively.
    [Show full text]
  • The Numerical Inversion of the Laplace Transform
    ▼ Journal of Research (Science), Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. Vol.13, No.2, December 2002, pp. 139-144 ISSN 1021-1012 A NEW INDRATHERIUM FOSSIL GIRAFFE INDRATHERIUM COMPRESSUS SP. NOV. FROM SIWALIK FORMATIONS OF PAKISTAN Aleem Ahmed Khan1 and Muhammad Sarwar2 1Zoology Division, Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. 2Zoology Department, University of the Punjab, New Campus, Lahore, Pakistan. Abstract: The specimen P.U. P.C. No.87/13 is excellently preserved upper third premolar of the upper right side and is found from Sardhok, district Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan. It belongs to the Pinjorian of the upper Siwalik formations. The P3 is very large, transversely elongated, triangular and with pronounced para- and mesostyles. The upper premolars of the species under study were extremely compressed and the parastylic fold was highly pronounced. Indratherium is distinguished from other genera due to the striking excess of breadth over length in the molars. This feature must have been shown by its premolars as well. In other larger genera of the giraffidae, this feature is not exhibited. The specimen under study is fairly wider transversely than longer. The specialized characters of P.U.P.C. No. 87/13 warrant the erection of a new species Indratherium compressus sp. nov. Keywords:- Giraffidae, Indratherium, para- and mesostyles, Siwaliks. INTRODUCTION First scientific mention of the Siwalik giraffes goes back to 1836 when Falconer and Cautley described a large massive giraffe, Sivatherium giganteum from the Upper Siwaliks. Since that time, a number of genera and species have been recorded from various formations of the Siwaliks by different workers such as Lydekker [1876, 1878], Pilgrim [1910] and Matthew [1929].
    [Show full text]
  • Neogene Climate, Terrestrial Mammals and Flora of the Indian Subcontinent
    Proc Indian Natn Sci Acad 82 No. 3 July Spl Issue 2016 pp. 605-615 Printed in India. DOI: 10.16943/ptinsa/2016/48470 Review Article Neogene Climate, Terrestrial Mammals and Flora of the Indian Subcontinent RAJEEV PATNAIK1,* and VANDANA PRASAD2 1Center for Advanced Study in Geology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India 2Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, India (Received on 10 April 2016; Accepted on 28 April 2016) The present review compiles the work done in and around India during 2011-2015 on the terrestrial climate, fauna and vegetation changes during the Neogene. Tectonics that led to the final closure of Tethys, uplift of the Tibetan plateau, land connection between Africa and Eurasia played a major role in the climatic variability and paleobiogeographic history of fauna and flora of the Indian subcontinent. Though the timing of initiation of monsoon is still a debatable issue, establishment of seasonal reversal in wind direction pattern during summer and winter period and development of monsoonal climate in larger parts of the Indian subcontionent is characteristic of Neogene. Fossil records of flora and fauna provide evidence of warm and humid climate of early Neogene, which then shifted to cooler and drier conditions during the late Neogene. This shift in the climatic conditions resulted in a major vegetation change in the Indian subcontinent with Early and Middle Miocene being dominated by C3 vegetation, and warm and humid tropical flora in low land areas while Late Miocene and Pliocene saw the dominance of C4 grasslands. Influenced by this major vegetation and ecological shift around Late Miocene, several browsing mammals of the Early and Middle Miocene landscape gave way to mostly grazing mammals of the Late Miocene and Pliocene time.
    [Show full text]
  • Download the Full Paper
    Int. J. Biosci. 2019 International Journal of Biosciences | IJB | ISSN: 2220-6655 (Print), 2222-5234 (Online) http://www.innspub.net Vol. 15, No. 6, p. 405-419, 2019 RESEARCH PAPER OPEN ACCESS New Fossil remains of Giraffokeryx punjabiensis from the Miocene outcrops of Chakwal, Punjab, Pakistan Saleem Akhtar, Khizar Samiullah*, Azhar Rasul, Javeria Altaf Department of Zoology, GC University Faisalabad, Pakistan Key words: Giraffokerycinae, Dentition, Giraffokeryx, Late Miocene, Lower Siwaliks. http://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/15.6.405-419 Article published on December 29, 2019 Abstract New fossil remains of Giraffokeryx punjabiensis has been described here on the basis of taxonomic characters which were collected from the outcrops of Dhok Bun Ameer Khatoon (Lat. 320 79 26.5 N Long. 720 92 35.8 E). These outcrops are situated in district Chakwal, Punjab province, northern Pakistan. This locality of Late Miocene belongs to Chinji Formation, Lower Siwaliks of Pakistan with estimated age of 14.2–11.2 Ma. The described fossils of family Giraffokerycinae designated in this paper include isolated upper dentition including premolars and molars. The fossil giraffes indicate forests and woodland ecosystem at the time of deposition. * Corresponding Author: Khizar Samiullah [email protected] 405 Akhtar et al. Int. J. Biosci. 2019 Introduction is present on the frontals of Giraffokeryx (Garaads, Like many other mammalian groups, Giraffidae is 1935). The medium sized mixed feeder Giraffokeryx also well represented group in the Siwaliks of was disappeared about 10 Ma while the large giraffids Pakistan. This family consists of almost fourteen were present in the rest of Miocene (Barry et al., species and four subfamilies included Progiraffinae, 2002).
    [Show full text]
  • Siwalik Giraffidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla): a Review
    Punjab Univ. J. Zool., Vol. 30 (1), pp. 031-036, 2015 ISSN 1016-1597 (Print) ISSN 2313-8556 (online) Review Article Siwalik Giraffidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla): A review Khalid Mahmood*, Muhammad Akbar Khan, Muhammad Adeeb Babar and Muhammad Akhtar Palaeontology laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore-54590, Pakistan. (Article history: Received: March 18, 2015; Revised: May 29, 2015) Abstract The article is based on the published literature regarding the family Giraffidae, particularly about the extinct Siwalik species. The provided information is collected from the previous published articles, aiming to produce the basic information of the Siwalik giraffids. The distribution of the Siwalik giraffid species is also briefly discussed. Key words: Mammalia, Vertebrate, Giraffidae, Miocene, Siwaliks. To cite this article: MAHMOOD, K., KHAN, M.A., BABAR, M. A. AND AKHTAR, M., 2015. Siwalik Giraffidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla): A review. Punjab Univ. J. Zool., 30(1): 31-36. INTRODUCTION related to the Antilocapridae and to the Saiga antelope based on the development of the horn ecora (horned ruminants) and Tragulina- cores. He stipulated that the connections Pecora are well-adapted ruminants. between Sivatherium and the modern giraffe are Fossils are recorded in Eurasia, North of minor importance. Although Murie did not P outline a classification for the fossil Giraffidae, America and Africa during Neogene but the remains are rare during Eocene. Cervoids and he present a sort of phylogenetic diagram in giraffoids could have had predominantly which he showed Sivatherium as being directly vicariant origins within the pecora, giraffoids related to Bramatherium, to the saiga and to the within Africa, Arabia and/or India and cervoids pronghorn antelope.
    [Show full text]