New Alicornops (Rhinocerotidae) remains from Lower and Middle Siwaliks, Pakistan

• Published in: Annales de paléontologie (1982) 2013-04, Vol.99 (2), p.131-155
• Main Authors: Khan, Abdul Majid, Cerdeño, Esperanza, Khan, Muhammad Akbar, Akhtar, Muhammad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alicornops; Pakistan; Rhinocerotidae; Siwaliks
• ISSN: 0753-3969
• DOI: 10.1016/j.annpal.2012.10.003

Unpublished rhinocerotid remains from the Lower and Middle Siwaliks of Pakistan are described in this paper and recognized as two species of Alicornops. Alicornops complanatum (Heissig) is identified in the Dhok Pathan Formation of the Middle Siwaliks and Alicornops laogouense Deng in the Kamlial Formation of the Lower Siwaliks. The Dhok Pathan Formation levels with A. complanatum are roughly correlated with the late Miocene-Pliocene European mammal zones MN10-15. In turn, levels with A. laogouense of the Kamlial Formation would correlate with the middle–late Aragonian (middle Miocene) European MN5. The recognition of the Chinese species A. laogouense in the Potwar Plateau represents the first discovery of this taxon in Pakistan and increases the geographical and stratigraphic distributions of this species, and adds to the rhinocerotid association from the Siwaliks. In turn, the presence of A. complanatum in the Siwaliks of Potwar Plateau also enlarges its geographic distribution in Pakistan, as it was previously known from the Bugti Hills of Balouchistan. The absence of Alicornops from the Siwaliks in the Chinji and Nagri formations (between late MN5 and MN9 zones) might be due to an inadequate fossil record, as other rhinocerotid species are known from Kamlial to Dhok Pathan formations. However, the two recorded species of Alicornops could also reveal two independent migration waves as supported by the appearance of other taxa in different formations. A summary of fossil Cenozoic rhinocerotids from different areas of Pakistan is also presented. Dans la présente contribution sont décrits et analysés des restes inédits de rhinocérotidés provenant des Siwaliks Inférieur et Moyen du Pakistan. Deux espèces sont reconnues à savoir Alicornops complanatum (Heissig) de la Formation Dhok Pathan des Siwalik Moyen et Alicornops laogouense Deng de la Formation Kamlial des Siwalik Inférieur. Les niveaux de la Formation Dhok Pathan avec A. complanatum permettent sa corrélation avec les unités mammaliennes européennes MN 10-15 du Miocène supérieur au Pliocène. Au même temps, les niveaux avec A. laogouense de la Formation Kamlial correspondent à peu près à l’unité MN5 (Aragonien moyen à supérieur, Miocène moyen) en Europe. La reconnaissance de l’espèce chinoise A. laogouense dans le Plateau de Potwar représente la première découverte de ce taxon au Pakistan, augmente les distributions géographique et stratigraphique de cette espèce et ajoute un nouveau registre aux Rhino