Yaxonomic Studies Based on New Remains of the Siwalik Proboscideans from Northern Pakistan

Abstract

The research work provides a comprehensive new collection of the Siwalik proboscideans from northern Pakistan. The collected specimens are more than 100 in number including a skull, tusks, dentaries, premolars and molars. Some of the specimens are reported for the first time from the Siwaliks and new to the Siwalik palaeontology in the subcontinent. The complete hemimandibles of Deinotherium pentapotamiae, adult lower tusk of Protanancus chinjiensis, adult lower tusks of Konobelodon sp., and the deciduous premolars of Gomphotherium browni have been reported for the first time from the Siwalik Group. Based on the morphometric analysis, the specimens belong to seventeen species, ten genera and five families viz. Deinotheriidae, Amebelodontidae, Gomphotheriidae, Stegodontidae and Elephantidae. The stratigraphic range of Protanancus chinjiensis has been extended from the Chinji Formation to the Dhok Pathan Formation of the Siwalik Group. Konobelodon sp. has been reported for the first time from the Chinji Formation of the Lower Siwalik Subgroup, contrary to Tassy (1983) who reported it only from the Dhok Pathan Formation of the Middle Siwalik Subgroup. The status of Stegolophodon latidens has been validated. Stegodon pinjorensis has been described for the first time from Pakistan. The new proboscidean material comes from the Siwalik localities namely Pajan Sher Shahana and Sar Dhok of district Gujrat; Chabbar Syedan, Padhri, Hasnot, Dhok Gojri, Tatrot, Kurla Sharif, and Lehri of district Jhelum; Dhok Bum Ameer Khatoon, Chinji, ii Lawa, Bhilomar, Kundal Nala Northern, Sethi-Nagri, Dhok Pathan and Naragghi of district Chakwal; Dhok Milan of district Attock and Kanhatti of district Khushab, northern Pakistan. The localities date 18.2 – 0.6 Ma. The Siwalik proboscideans exhibit diversity in the habitats, ranging from damply and swampy places to open grasslands and have mixed diet, ranging from grazers to browsers or even diggers.