Chronological framework and palaeoecology of Carnivora from the Linxia Basin, China

• Published in: Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology, 2023-04, Vol.615, p.111463, Article 111463
• Main Authors: Jiangzuo, Qigao, Wang, Shiqi, Deng, Tao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: basins; Biostratigraphy; body size; Canidae; Carnivora; China; Eastern Asia; Equus; Europe; family; fauna; Felidae; fossils; Late Cenozoic; Miocene epoch; palaeogeography; paleoclimatology; Paleoecology; phylogeny; Pleistocene epoch; Pliocene epoch; species
• ISSN: 0031-0182; 1872-616X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111463

The Linxia Basin has produced some of the most complete and fossiliferous fossil assemblages among the known late Cenozoic basins including diverse carnivoran elements. In this work, we summarize the chronological framework for its fossil Carnivora based on current knowledge. A total of 80 species of Carnivora, belonging to 55 genera and 10 families, are currently recorded in 10 assemblages. Three faunas with Carnivora of Middle Miocene age, include amphicyonids, hemicyonids, and percrocutids. Five assemblages dating to the late Miocene and the earliest Pliocene hipparion faunas, are represented by very abundant ictitherine hyaenids, the giant hyaena Dinocrocuta, the large machairodont Amphimachairodus and diverse metailurine felids, and various mustelids. The Late Pliocene records scant material, but the Early Pleistocene Equus fauna is well represented by canids, hyaenids, a lynx, and Megantereon. A major Carnivoran guild turnover occurs at the boundary of the Middle and Late Miocene. The Linxia Basin experienced earlier aridification in the Late Miocene than did Europe, likely correlated with the rise of Tibet. The medial body size of Carnivora remains largely unchanged from the Middle Miocene to the Early Pleistocene. Crown-group members (at the family level) increased dramatically in proportion during the Late Miocene, and remained largely unchanged since the latest Miocene, suggesting that the Late Miocene is the major period of emplacement of current Carnivora phylogenetic structure. •Chronological framework of fossil Carnivora from the Linxia Basin is given.•Body size, and palaeoecology of fossil Carnivora are assigned to explore the environmental change.•Crown group proportion increases rapidly raise at the Late Miocene.