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Systematic study of the new remains of Propotamochoerus hysudricus (Suidae, Mammalia) from the Late Miocene–Early Pliocene of Middle Siwaliks (Pakistan)

  • 1st CAJG 2018
  • Published:
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Abstract

New remains of Propotamochoerus hysudricus are described from localities of the Dhok Pathan and Nagri formations of the Middle Siwaliks of Pakistan. Propotamochoerus hysudricus is a moderate-sized extinct suid with comparatively larger cheek teeth, elongated first molar, and basal pillars. The Propotamochoerus hysudricus material described in this article is a good addition in the field of paleontology as these new remains comprise of the maxilla, mandibles, isolated incisors, and canine along with premolars and molars. The genus Propotamochoerus in the Siwaliks is represented only by a single species, i.e., Propotamochoerus hysudricus. Its closest relative Korynochoerus is found in Eurasia. The age range of the species is from about 10 million to about 6 million years. The probable ancestor of Propotamochoerus is Hyotherium of Chinji times about 11 million years ago. The primitive genus Propotamochoerus was pretty near to the Palaeochoerus and was treated as a precursor of other suinae. Ancient Propotamochoeroid stock gave rise to three major groups, one leading to genera Potamochoerus and Sus, the other to the genera Hippohyus and Sivahyus, another leading to the genera Microstonyx, Hippopotamodon, and Jhelumia. The major difference between Propotamochoerus hysudricus and other species of the genus Propotamochoerus is mainly the dental morphology of premolars.

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Data availability

The material used in this study is original and authentic.

Abbreviations

PUPC:

Punjab University Palaeontological Collection

AMNH:

American Museum of Natural History

GSI:

Geological Survey of India

Fm:

Formation

M:

Upper molar

m:

Lower molar

L:

Length

W:

Width

l:

Left

r:

Right

Ma:

Million years ago

mm:

Millimeters

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

    Sadaf Aslam, Abdul Majid Khan, Ayesha Iqbal & Muhammad Tahir Waseem

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Okara, Okara, Pakistan

    Rana Manzoor Ahmad

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  1. Sadaf Aslam
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  2. Abdul Majid Khan
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  3. Rana Manzoor Ahmad
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Responsible Editor: Attila Ciner

This paper was selected from the 1st Conference of the Arabian Journal of Geosciences (CAJG), Tunisia 2018

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Aslam, S., Khan, A.M., Ahmad, R.M. et al. Systematic study of the new remains of Propotamochoerus hysudricus (Suidae, Mammalia) from the Late Miocene–Early Pliocene of Middle Siwaliks (Pakistan). Arab J Geosci 14, 73 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-06300-y

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