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Potwar rabbits:
WINKLER ET AL.

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Abstract

Introduction

Materials and Methods

Systematic Paleontology

Discussion and Conclusions

Acknowledgments

References

 

 

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Fossil lagomorphs from the Potwar Plateau, northern Pakistan

Alisa J. Winkler, Lawrence J. Flynn, and Yukimitsu Tomida

ABSTRACT

Siwalik Group sediments on the Potwar Plateau have yielded approximately 20 cranial and postcranial remains of leporids from nine localities. The oldest dental remains (late Miocene, 7.4-6.5 Ma) are from the Hasnot area, Dhok Pathan Formation. These specimens are assigned to Alilepus elongatus, sp. nov. Alilepus elongatus is diagnosed in part by a p3 with the anterior end elongated, posteroexternal and posterointernal reentrants each extending approximately halfway across the tooth, thick enamel on posterior border of trigonid smooth to heavily crenulated in posterointernal reentrant, and thin enamel on anterior border of talonid lightly to heavily crenulated. The p4 to m2s may have an anteroexternal reentrant and crenulations on the anterior end of the talonid. Three teeth dating to the Pliocene (ca. 3.5 Ma) are assignable only to Leporidae. The youngest specimen from the Potwar Plateau is a single incomplete m1 or m2 from the Pabbi Hills, Soan Formation (early Pleistocene, ca. 1.7 Ma). Its incompleteness could allow referral to Pliopentalagus sp., Pliosiwalagus sp. or Caprolagus sp. All postcranial remains from the Potwar Plateau date from the late Miocene. They are not identified specifically, but are likely referable to A. elongatus. The paucity of lagomorphs recovered from the Siwalik Group, northern Pakistan, may reflect a predator bias, as thousands of other small mammals have been collected.

Alisa J. Winkler. Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275 and Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, 75290 USA
Lawrence J. Flynn. Peabody Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 USA
Yukimitsu Tomida. National Museum of Nature and Science, 3-23-1 Hyakunincho, Shinjukuku, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan

KEY WORDS: new species; Lagomorpha, Leporidae: Pakistan; Neogene; Pleistocene; Alilepus

PE Article Number: 14.3.38A
Copyright: Society of Vertebrate Paleontology November 2011
Submission: 15 June 2007. Acceptance: 10 April 2011

 

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Potwar rabbits
Plain-Language & Multilingual  Abstracts | Abstract | Introduction | Materials and Methods
Systematic Paleontology | Discussion and ConclusionsAcknowledgments | References
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