Extinct genus Lagokarpos reveals a biogeographic connection between Tibet and other regions in the Northern Hemisphere during the Paleogene

The biodiversity history on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) has remained unclear for a long time. Recent paleobotanical investigations provide opportunities for revealing the phytogeographic history on the QTP in deep time and for testing phylogeographic hypotheses. Lagokarpos is an extinct genus...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of systematics and evolution : JSE 2019-11, Vol.57 (6), p.670-677
Main Authors: Tang, He, Liu, Jia, Wu, Fei‐Xiang, Spicer, Teresa, Spicer, Robert A., Deng, Wei‐Yu‐Dong, Xu, Cong‐Li, Zhao, Fan, Huang, Jian, Li, Shu‐Feng, Su, Tao, Zhou, Zhe‐Kun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodiversity
biogeography
Eocene
Fossils
Fruits
Humid climates
Lagokarpos
New species
Northern Hemisphere
Paleogene
Physical characteristics
Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
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Summary:The biodiversity history on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) has remained unclear for a long time. Recent paleobotanical investigations provide opportunities for revealing the phytogeographic history on the QTP in deep time and for testing phylogeographic hypotheses. Lagokarpos is an extinct genus with unknown modern affinities. It is easily distinguished by its fruits, which have two long wings and an elliptical fruit body. Previously, Lagokarpos fossils have only been found from North America and Germany, ranging from the latest Paleogene to early middle Eocene. Recently, we found fossil fruits of this genus from the Niubao Formation, near Bangoin County in the central QTP. A new species, namely Lagokarpos tibetensis H. Tang, T. Su & Z. K. Zhou sp. nov., is described. This is the first fossil record of the genus in Asia. The occurrence of L. tibetensis indicates a close floristic linkage between the QTP and other floras in the Northern Hemisphere during the Paleogene. According to the floristic assemblages, we suggest the central QTP experienced a tropical or subtropical humid climate during that period.
ISSN:1674-4918
1759-6831
DOI:10.1111/jse.12505