New Fossils of Giraffokeryx (Mammalia: Cetartiodactyla: Giraffidae) from Chinji Formation, Pakistan
This paper describes new fossils of Giraffokeryx originating from the Chinji Formation of northern Pakistan. The fossils, representing worth describing hemimandibles, are collected from the Middle Miocene outcrops of the Chakwal district, Punjab, Pakistan. A detailed description of the newly discovered fossils is being provided. The Chinji sample adds new information on the anatomical morphology […]
Old world ruminant morphophysiology, life history, and fossil record: exploring key innovations of a diversification sequence
The omasum of pecoran ruminants (which is absent in tragulids) and shorter gestation periods in non-giraffid crown pecorans (as opposed to giraffids) could represent cases of key innovations that caused disparity in species diversity in extant ruminants. Literature suggests that the different ruminant groups inhabited similar niche spectra at different times, supporting the ‘increased fitness’ […]
The systematic position of Hoplitomerycidae (Ruminantia) revisited
Hoplitomeryx Leinders was originally described only on cranial characters. The type specimens were found during the 1970’s in karstic fissure fillings, most likely of Messinian age, in Gargano (Apulia, southeastern Italy), between Poggio Imperiale (418490300 N, 158210580 E) and Apricena (418470060 N, 158260410 E). During the 1990’s, Hoplitomeryx remains were also discovered in the lower […]
The late miocene artiodactyls in the Dhok Pathan type locality of the Dhok Pathan Formation, the Middle Siwaliks, Pakistan
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 […]