Skull reconstruction and ecology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Urmiatherium polaki</Emphasis> (Bovidae,Mammalia) from the upper Miocene deposits of Maragheh,Iran

Study of a newly discovered cranial specimen of Urmiatherium polaki from Karaj Abad site in Maragheh, Iran, allows us to describe the complete skull and present a new diagnosis for this late Miocene mammal species. In the comparative study of the specimen we propose the relative position of the upper teeth as a reliable metrical method for discriminating bovids of similar size. Based on the available information, a skull reconstruction of Urmiatherium polaki is provided and its ecological profile is outlined. Both the cranial and dental features of U. polaki indicate a gregarious grazing bovid of medium size, adapted to uneven ground and exhibiting ramming as the predominant fighting behavior.