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New Brontotheriidae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from the early and middle Eocene of Pakistan with implications for mammalian paleobiogeography

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 July 2015

Pieter Missiaen ,
Gregg F. Gunnell  and
Philip D. Gingerich
Pieter Missiaen
Affiliation:
1Ghent University, Research Unit Palaeontology, Krijgslaan 281-S8, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium and Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), Department of Paleontology, rue Vautier 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium, 2University of Michigan, Museum of Paleontology, Geddes Road 1109, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079, USA, ;
Gregg F. Gunnell
Affiliation:
2University of Michigan, Museum of Paleontology, Geddes Road 1109, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079, USA, ;
Philip D. Gingerich
Affiliation:
2University of Michigan, Museum of Paleontology, Geddes Road 1109, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079, USA, ;
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Abstract

Brontotheriids are common in Eocene faunas of North America and Asia but are poorly known from the Indian subcontinent. Here we describe three new late early Eocene brontotheriids from Pakistan, found in the upper part of the upper Ghazij Formation and representing the oldest Asian brontotheres. Eotitanops pakistanensis n. sp. is a small, primitive species, Balochititanops haqi n. gen. n. sp. is slightly larger and more derived, and fragmentary specimens identified as cf. Balochititanops sp. appear to represent a third, larger taxon.

Improved knowledge of early brontotheres from North America permits better taxonomic resolution of some middle Eocene brontothere remains from Pakistan. ‘Eotitanops’ dayi from the Kuldana Formation is shown to be closer to Palaeosyops and is renamed Palaeosyops dayi n. comb. A new astragalus from the Baska Formation probably represents Pakotitanops latidentatus. A previously described humerus and a new calcaneum, both from the Subathu Formation, are tentatively referred to Mulkrajanops moghliensis.

Phylogenetic interpretation suggests that Eotitanops pakistanensis is as primitive as the North American species of this basal brontothere genus, and also, within the limits of stratigraphic resolution, Eotitanops appeared on both continents at the same time. The origin of brontotheres is therefore equally likely to have been in Asia or in North America. The presence of the primitive brontotheres Eotitanops and Palaeosyops in Indo-Pakistan and North America indicates faunal exchange, almost certainly through Asia, although the direction of dispersal cannot be determined. The postulated high-latitude exchange coincides with a warm interval known as the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 85 , Issue 4 , July 2011 , pp. 665 - 677
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

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