Late Miocene Microstonyx remains (Suidae, Mammalia) from Northern China

Several large suid cranial remains attributed to Microstonyx major are part of a new Hipparion Fauna collection from the Hezheng area, Northern China. The new material confirms the presence of Microstonyx in the late Miocene of the area. The Chinese form belongs to a small-sized eastern population with reduced premolar row and clear sexual bimodality. Statistical comparison shows that Microstonyx major was a polymorphic species and reinforces recognition of Hippopotamodon as a separate genus, defined by relatively stout premolars resulting from a different underlying pattern of allometric growth. The presence of Microstonyx in North China and the distinct suid assemblage that lived there suggest biogeographic connections between Northern China and Western Eurasia in contrast to isolation from Southern China and the Indian subcontinent. The suid fauna of the late Miocene of Northern China seems to have been restricted to the later, more humid phase represented by the Red Clay faunas.     

Prostrepsiceros and Protragelaphus (Artiodactyla,Mammalia) from the Late Miocene locality of Chomateri (Attica,Greece)

The Late Miocene fossiliferous locality of Chomateri is located close to the classic locality of Pikermi, but unfortunately its faunal context is not sufficiently known. Some fossil remains of spiral-horned antelopes from Chomateri are assigned to Prostrepsiceros rotundicornis and Protragelaphus skouzesi. The co-existence of P. rotundicornis and P. skouzesi is relatively rare in the Late Miocene, but well-documented in Pikermi. Comparisons of the Chomateri material support a middle Turolian age for the Chomateri locality and suggest a close chronological relation to the Pikermi fauna.     

Musteloids and feloids (Mammalia, Carnivora) from the late Miocene locality of Pikermi (Attica, Greece)

Some relatively rare carnivore remains from Pikermi are studied. The present specimens include Simocyon primigenius(ROTH and WAGNER, 1854), Promeles palaeatticus(WEITHOFER, 1888), Martes woodwardiPILGRIM, 1931, Felis atticaWAGNER, 1857 and Machairodus giganteus(WAGNER, 1848), as well as some postcranial remains that resemble Enhydriodon? latipesPILGRIM, 1931 and are assigned to Mustelidae gen. et spec. indet. Some of these species were not known until now but from their holotypes as M. woodwardi and E.? latipes. Other species such as F. attica and M. giganteus are better known but from relatively scant material. Since the material of the earlier mentioned species comes from Pikermi, their type locality, it is of especial importance and improves our knowledge for the Pikermi carnivores and their relationships to other species. In some cases where the material comes from ossiferous blocks, the accompanying faunal context is discussed.     

A ctenodactylid rodent (Mammalia: Rodentia) from the Middle Miocene of Chios Island (Greece)

Field work carried out in 1991 and 1993 at the Middle Miocene locality of Thymiana (Chios Island, Greece), produced much rodent material including a number of ctenodactylid dental specimens. They represent a single taxon whose upper and lower cheek tooth morphology clearly differs from Prosayimys flynni and all Sayimys species known so far, except for Sayimys intermedius. The ctenodactylid teeth from the Middle Miocene of Chios are identified as pertaining to the latter species, despite minor differences from the Pakistani and Saudi Arabian representatives of S. intermedius.     

云南中新世杉科化石木研究

利用光学显微镜和扫描电镜首次对云南省楚雄州晚中新世石灰坝组石鼓村层的钙化木材进行了解决学研究。鉴定出两种类型的木材。柳杉型落羽杉型木（Taxodioxylon cryptomeripsoides Schonfeld)和杉木型落羽杉型木（Taxo-dioxylon cunninghamioides Watari)。二者分别与现代柳杉属和杉木属具有最接近的亲缘关系。根据这两种杉科化石木现存最近亲缘种的生态环境,并综合其他资料,推测该地区在晚中新世为温暖湿润的亚热带气候环境。     

新疆准噶尔盆地北缘中中新世早期的原圆齿鼠(Promylagaulinae,Mylagaulidae)(英文)

<正>1988年吴文裕描述了产自新疆准噶尔盆地北缘铁尔斯哈巴合地点哈拉玛盖组下部层位的一枚圆齿鼠的P4,定名为Sinomylagaulus halamagaiensis。1997年中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所新疆考察队又在铁尔斯哈巴合的哈拉玛盖组下部层位中采集到两枚p4。1988年的研究工作仅依据一枚上前臼齿(P4),标本的稀缺决定了当时研究成果的局限性。新材料无疑为认识新疆的圆齿鼠类提供了新的信息     

Dental evolution in Neophanomys (Rodentia, Octodontidae) from the late Miocene of central Argentina

The evolutionary pattern of the molar morphology of the small caviomorph (Octodontidae) Neophanomys from the late Miocene Cerro Azul Formation of central Argentina is analyzed. Two new species (chronomorphs) are recognized, which constitute an anagenetically evolving lineage with a gradual and directional pattern of increasing molar hypsodonty. Dental changes related to increasing hypsodonty are comparable to those of the octodontid lineage Chasichimys also recovered from the Cerro Azul Formation. However, Neophanomys shows comparatively less variation in gross morphology and there are no evidences that this lineage achieved euhypsodonty. In contrast, important changes in enamel microstructure (schmelzmuster) are observed among different populations of Neophanomys, supporting the hypothesis that these changes can occur at least partially independently from modifications in dental gross morphology. The patterns of dental evolution detected in the Neophanomys and Chasichimys-Xenodontomys lineages and the unequivocal polarity of the changes involved, related to increasing hypsodonty, reinforce the hypothesis that chronological differences exist among late Miocene outcroppings of Cerro Azul Formation in central Argentina.     

A juvenile skull of Acerorhinus yuanmouensis (Mammalia: Rhinocerotidae) from the Late Miocene hominoid fauna of the Yuanmou Basin (Yunnan,China)

A unique juvenile skull bearing both milk premolars and unerupted but fully developed permanent premolars and molars (observed using X-ray microcomputed tomography), and some isolated upper cheek teeth, all from the Late Miocene hominoid fauna of the Yuanmou Basin (Yunnan, China), closely resemble craniodental material of Acerorhinus yuanmouensis Zong, 1998 from the same locality, and are referred to this species. A phylogenetic analysis based on 214 craniodental morphological characters scored for 31 terminal taxa reveals that A. yuanmouensis should be assigned to the genus Acerorhinus indeed. The newly discovered specimens improve our understanding of this species, especially with respect to the morphology of the milk premolars and premolars. Two intraspecific variations in the upper premolars are noted: a lingual bridge may be present or absent, and the lingual cingulum continuous or reduced. The analysis also indicates that: the phylogenetic status of Acerorhinus lufengensis Deng and Qi, 2009 should be reconsidered; “Aceratherium” huadeensis Qiu, 1979 does neither belong to Aceratherium nor Acerorhinus, and its phylogenetic status remains debatable.     

New latest Permian foraminifers from Laren (Guangxi Province, South China): Palaeobiogeographic implications

Microfacies analyses performed on the latest Permian Wujiaping Formation at Laren (Guangxi Province, South China) show that the bioclastic-rich limestones of Late Permian age contain a rich and well-diversified foraminiferal fauna. This fauna is here revised in order to be compared with time-equivalent levels of southern Iran and southern Turkey. Some new and unexpected phylogenetic trends are highlighted among the biseriamminoids. The new or poorly known genera Retroseptellina, Septoglobivalvulina, Paraglobivalvulinoides, Dagmarita?, Bidagmarita nov. gen., Louisettita, Paradagmaritopsis nov. gen. and Paradagmarita? are concerned. Nevertheless, these newly appeared biseriamminoids are subordinate to abundant Tetrataxis and Climacammina, ultimate survivors of the families Palaeotextulariidae and Tetrataxidae, appeared as old as the Early Carboniferous (“Mississippian”). Algae, miliolids, and nodosarioids are poorly represented. Two genera and four species are here newly described: Globivalvulina curiosa nov. sp., Louisettita ultima nov. sp., Bidagmarita nov. gen., Bidagmarita sinica nov. gen. nov. sp., Paradagmaritopsis nov. gen., Paradagmaritopsis kobayashii nov. gen. nov. sp. The palaeogeographic distribution of these foraminifers is interpreted to be typically of Neo-Tethyan regions, ranging from southern Turkey (Hazro) to South China (Laren) and up to Japan for some species (i.e., Paradagmaritopsis). At Laren, Late Permian strata are generally characterized by Reichelina ex gr. simplex Sheng. Isolated samples of packstones, collected in Tsoteng region (Guangxi Province, South China), contain Sphaerulina sp. together with various smaller foraminifers and numerous representatives of the new species G. curiosa nov. sp. In this study we demonstrate that the regions of Zagros (Iran), Taurus (Turkey), South China and even Japan shared similar foraminiferal assemblages and represented intermittently connected palaeobiogeographic provinces during Late Permian times.     

Systematics and functional morphology of Molarochoerus yuanmouensis (Suidae, Mammalia) from the Late Miocene of Yunnan, China

The discovery of a propotamochoerine suid with unique features of the dentition and skull led to the naming of Molarochoerus yuanmouensis Liu & Pan [6]. Further study of the material reveals that this species was better adapted than Sus scrofa for the ‘rooting’ behaviour and that its dentition has morphological features indicating that it was eating hard food items. The posterior premolars are completely molarised, hence the generic name, the first time that any suid has been shown to possess almost perfectly molariform P4/s and p/4s. In lateral view the curvature of the occlusal surface of the upper cheek teeth is convex ventrally, the opposite of the usual situation in suids. The origins of the rostral musculature are exceptionally well developed, and the nasal bones are much more robust than is usually the case in Suinae, indicating powerful musculature and fortified osseous structures presumably for ‘rooting’ in hard ground or for extended periods of time. The masseteric musculature appears to have been more massive than it is in Sus, Microstonyx and Propotamochoerus. To cite this article: M. Pickford et al., C. R. Palevol 3 (2004).

Résumé

Systématique et morphologie fonctionnelle de Molarochoerus yuanmouensis (Suidae, Mammalia) du Miocène supérieur de Yunnan, Chine. La découverte d”un Suidae Propotamochoerini présentant des caractères dentaires et crâniens uniques a conduit à la création de Molarochoerus yuanmouensis Liu & Pan [6]. Une étude du matériel montre que cette espèce était bien mieux adaptée au fouissage que Sus scrofa. Par ailleurs, les caractères morphologiques de sa dentition indiquent qu'il se nourrissait d'aliments coriaces. Les prémolaires postérieures sont complètement molarisées, d'où le nom générique, et c'est la première fois qu'un Suidae présente des P4 supérieures et inférieures presque parfaitement molariformes. En vue latérale, la courbure de la surface occlusale des dents jugales supérieures est convexe ventralement, différant ainsi de la morphologie classique des Suidae. La musculature rostrale est exceptionnellement bien développée et les os nasaux sont beaucoup plus robustes que chez les autres Suinae, suggérant des structures musculaires et osseuses puissantes, probablement liées au fouissage, soit dans des sols, soit sur une longue durée. Les muscles massétériens sont plus puissants que dans les genres Sus, Microstonyx et Propotamochoerus. Pour citer cet article : M. Pickford et al., C. R. Palevol 3 (2004).     

A new elasmothere (Perissodactyla, Rhinocerotidae) from the late Miocene of the Linxia Basin in Gansu, China

Ningxiatherium euryrhinus sp. nov. is a relatively large elasmothere rhino from the Linxia Basin in northwestern China found in the early Bahean, which corresponds to the early Vallesian (MN 9), ca. 11.1 Ma. It is much larger than the extant Ceratotherium simum and has a single horn. Ningxiatherium is similar to the late Miocene Parelasmotherium from Gansu and Shanxi, but differs in having partially ossified nasal septum, terminal nasal horn boss, shallower nasal notch above the P3/P4 boundary, and much shorter premolars. N. euryrhinus sp. nov. differs from N. longirhinus from the late Miocene of Zhongning, Ningxia in northwestern China by its larger size, relatively wider nasals, shallower nasal notch, and sub-quadrangular occlusal surface of M3. In the Linxia Basin, the other early late Miocene (Bahean or Vallesian) elasmotheres are known from complete skulls or isolated teeth. They include two genera and three species: Parelasmotherium linxiaense, P. simplum, and Iranotherium morgani. They lack a nasal septum, but Ningxiatherium has one. The age of N. euryrhinus is early late Miocene based on direct association with biochronologic indicator taxa, such as Dinocrocuta gigantea, Hipparion dongxiangense, and Chilotherium primigenius. N. euryrhinus is more primitive than N. longirhinus sp. nov. in having a sub-quadrangular M3, a shallower nasal notch, and the presence of DP1 in adults.     

New materials of Dinocrocuta (Percrocutidae, Carnivora) from Lantian, Shaanxi Province, China, and remarks on Chinese Late Miocene biochronology

New materials from the middle part of the Bahe formation are described as Dinocrocuta gigantea. Review of the species reveals that it is derived in the evolutionary lineage of Dinocrocuta, and biochronologically later than Vallesian records from Turkey. The only possibly related Vallesian species from China is Crocuta gigantea xizangensis from Biru, Tibet, which may prove to be conspecific with D. senyureki. Based on the mammalian faunal sequence from Lantian, and with reference to Red Clay paleomagnetic data, the duration of D. gigantea in China should be later late Miocene, rather than the previously postulated early late Miocene (Vallesian equivalent) age.     

Palaeoreas,Majoreas, and Stryfnotherium gen. nov. (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Bovidae) from the Late Miocene of Greece

A new comparative study of the two crania, LGPUT RZO-03 and LGPUT RZO-68 attributed to Palaeoreas zouavei Bouvrain, 1980 from the Late Miocene of Axios Valley, Greece reveals great morphological and metric differences between them, which require the exclusion of LGPUT RZO-68 from this species and even from Palaeoreas Gaudry, 1861. This decision leaves unsupported many diagnostic features of P. zouavei applied by previous authors and along with recent data from Bulgaria put in doubt the validity of P. zouavei as a whole. As a result, the genus Palaeoreas is re-defined as monotypic and the cranial morphometric changes of P. lindermayeri (Wagner, 1848) are discussed on a temporal basis. An updated taxonomic analysis confirms the presence of P. lindermayeri in the Late Turolian mammal assemblage of Dytiko-1 (Axios Valley, Greece) but rejects its occurrence at Dytiko-2. Instead, a re-examination of old cranial specimens and a study of new ones suggest the presence in both sites of Majoreas Kostopoulos, 2004 a Late Miocene taxon previously mostly known from the eastern banks of the Aegean Sea. A reassessment of the LGPUT RZO-68 cranium, and its comparison with Palaeoreas and Criotherium Forsyth-Major, 1891, suggests that it deserves taxonomic distinction at genus and species levels: Stryfnotherium exophthalmon.     

Early Miocene cricetids (Rodentia) from the Junggar basin (Xinjiang, China) and their biochronological implications

Among the 14 small mammal species from the early Miocene locality of the northern area of the Junggar basin (northern Xinjiang, China), four species are cricetids (Rodentia): unnamed species of Cricetodon and Eumyarion, and two new species, Karydomys debruijni nov. sp. and Megacricetodon beijiangensis nov. sp. Some aspects of the morphology of Cricetodon sp. are shared by Eucricetodon from the late Oligocene, suggesting that these specimens could be of intermediate form between Eucricetodon and Cricetodon. One tooth of Eumyarion sp. was found, making its determination uncertain, but its morphology is clearly differentiated from the one of Cricetodon sp. The species K. debruijni nov. sp. is established based on its primitive features compared to the species known in Europe and Anatolia, and its specific association of characters compared to Karydomys dzerzhinskii. M. beijiangensis nov. sp. shows many plesiomorphic features compared to the species already described in the middle Miocene of China. Based on both the whole assemblage of rodents and the species of cricetids, the biochronologic position and the age of the locality are discussed. The locality appears to be biochronologically very close to the fauna from the Chul’adyr Formation in Aktau Mountains, but we propose an age slightly older than the one proposed for this fauna, probably equivalent to the MN3 biozone in Europe.     

The beaver (Mammalia,Castoridae) from the Miocene of Sandelzhausen (southern Germany)

The Early/Middle Miocene boundary locality Sandelzhausen (MN5, southern Germany) yielded three beaver teeth: one lower incisor fragment and two strongly worn upper premolars, a right and a left one. The latter are so similar in wear, height, size, and enamel pattern that they probably represent one individual. Although the teeth have been referred to Chalicomys jaegeri Kaup, 1832 (e.g., Hugueney 1999, Fahlbusch 2003), it seems more likely that they belong to Steneofiber depereti Mayet, 1908. However, the assignment of the present material to either one of these species is difficult, because in the advanced wear stage some diagnostic characteristics cannot be assessed. As to ecological implications for the locality Sandelzhausen the taxonomic identity of these two beaver species may not be important. Both are known from riverine, lacustrine or swamp sediments, and it can be assumed that they usually lived in close vicinity to water. Thus, the presence of beaver remains supports the presence of water at Sandelzhausen. However, the teeth might have an allochthonous origin from creeks of the rising Alps.      

Late Miocene lagomorphs from the Republic of Moldova

The aim of this paper is to enlarge knowledge about still poorly documented and understood record of Lagomorpha (Mammalia) from the Late Miocene of Moldova. The lagomorph material from two new Late Miocene localities, Razeni (MN11/12), Gradishte (MN12), and re-sampling locality Chimislyia (MN12), of Southern Moldova, is described in detail here. The localities yielded small vertebrate fauna including five lagomorph taxa: Prolagus cf. oeningensis, “Proochotona” cf. eximia, Alilepus laskarewi, “Proochotona” sp., and Alilepus sp. P. cf. oeningensis is described for the first time in the studied area. A short review of the lagomorph record from the Republic of Moldova is provided. This contribution outlines the importance of the lagomorphs for biostratigraphic purposes, and highlighs the gaps in our knowledge related to the faunal succession in this area.     

Brachypotherium (Perissodactyla,Rhinocerotidae) from the late Miocene of Samburu Hills,Kenya

Several isolated cheek teeth and mandibular specimens of Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from the upper Miocene Namurungule Formation in Samburu Hills, Kenya, are redescribed. Previously, these specimens had been identified as Chilotheridium pattersoni, Chilotheridium sp., Paradiceros mukirii, and Paradiceros sp. They are reidentified here as documenting the genus Brachypotherium based on their bucco-lingually broad molariform upper premolars with short crochet and flattened buccal walls on both upper and lower molars, the latter having a shallow external groove. Comparisons with other Brachypotherium species suggest that the present specimens belong to Brachypotherium sp. cf. B. minor. The presence of Brachypotherium in the Samburu Hills, at ca. 9.5 Ma, is concordant with the paleoenvironment (presence of lacustrine and river environments) known for this locality during the early late Miocene.     

A New Genus of Aplodontid Rodent (Mammalia,Rodentia) from the Late Oligocene of Northern Junggar Basin,China

A new genus and species of aplodontid rodent, Proansomys dureensis, from the late Oligocene of the northern Junggar Basin of China is described. The new genus is referred to as Ansomyinae because the ectoloph on the upper cheek teeth, although not fully crested, has attained the same characteristic bucket-handle-shaped configuration as other members of the subfamily. It represents the earliest record of the subfamily yet discovered in Asia and is more plesiomorphic than species of the genus Ansomys in having a partly crested ectoloph, a lower degree of lophodonty, and less complex tooth basins (lacking accessory lophules). Proansomys has transitional features between Prosciurus and Ansomys, suggesting that the Ansomyinae derived from a group of aplodontids related to Prosciurus, as did other advanced aplodontid rodents. This provides new light on the paleobiogeography of the Ansomyinae.     

New material of Chalicotheriidae (Perissodactyla,Mammalia) from the Late Miocene of Axios Valley,Macedonia (Greece) with the description of a new species

Chalicotheriids are rare in the late Miocene mammal localities of Axios Valley, Macedonia (Greece). The new campaign of excavations, since 1972, has provided some specimens, which are studied in this article. They are coming from two different localities. The late early Vallesian locality of Pentalophos 1 (PNT) has provided a skull and a mandible of an Ancylotherium. The morphological characters of the PNT material as the small size, the long snout, the shallow mandibular corpus, the strong cingulum in the teeth, the short tooth rows and the short M3/m3 indicate that it differs from the known Turolian species A. pentelicum and allow the erection of a new species, named Ancylotherium hellenicum n. sp., which can be used as a biostratigraphic marker of the Vallesian. The middle Turolian locality Prochoma 1 (PXM) has provided only one M3, which is determined to the chalicotheriine Anisodon macedonicus. This species was earlier described from the middle Turolian locality Vathylakkos 3 (VAT) and the late Turolian one of Dytiko 3 (DKO) of Axios Valley. The biogeography and biostratigraphy of the late Miocene chalicotheres of the Greco-Iranian Palaeoprovince (GRIP), as well as their palaeoecology are also discussed. The common chalicothere of GRIP is A. pentelicum, expanded from the Balkans to Afganistan and ranging stratigraphically from the early to the late Turolian. Chalicotherium goldfussi is certainly present in GRIP and it also ranges from the early to the late Turolian; its possible Vallesian occurrence needs confirmation. The other two late Miocene chalicotheres of GRIP A. macedonicus and Kalimantsia bulgarica are restricted to the Turolian of the Balkan Peninsula.