Enamel microstructure defines a major Paleogene hippopotamoid clade: the Merycopotamini (Cetartiodactyla, Hippopotamoidea)

We present new material of the selenodont anthracothere Hemimeryx blanfordi from the Oligocene deposits of the Bugti Hills (Balochistan, Pakistan), collected between 1999 and 2002. This is the first undisputed Oligocene occurrence of the species, previously known from the early Miocene of Pakistan....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Historical biology 2017-10, Vol.29 (7), p.947-957
Main Authors: Lihoreau, Fabrice, Alloing-Séguier, Léanie, Antoine, Pierre-Olivier, Boisserie, Jean-Renaud, Marivaux, Laurent, Métais, Grégoire, Welcomme, Jean-Loup
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthracotheriidae
Aquatic mammals
Bugti Hills
cladistic analysis
Dental enamel
Dental materials
Dispersal
Earth Sciences
Microstructure
Miocene
Oligocene
Pakistan
Paleogene
Paleontology
Phylogeny
Sciences of the Universe
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Summary:We present new material of the selenodont anthracothere Hemimeryx blanfordi from the Oligocene deposits of the Bugti Hills (Balochistan, Pakistan), collected between 1999 and 2002. This is the first undisputed Oligocene occurrence of the species, previously known from the early Miocene of Pakistan. Investigation of the molar enamel microstructure reveals a surprising mono-zonal Schmelzmuster, already detected in some middle to Late miocene selenedont anthracotheres. We include this observation combined with a morphological revision of H. blanfordi and a cladistic assessment of the dental evidence, to propose a new phylogenetic hypothesis regarding Hemimeryx and its close relatives. We confirm the clade including advanced bothriodontines, which we erect to a tribe rank and name Merycopotamini. The South Asian origin of Merycopotamini is consistent with hypothesized subsequent dispersal events of Merycopotamini from Asia to Africa.
ISSN:0891-2963
1029-2381
DOI:10.1080/08912963.2016.1274748