New rodents shed light on the age and ecology of late Miocene ape locality of Tapar (Gujarat, India)

First report of rodents from the Miocene Siwalik locality of Dunera, Pathankot District, Punjab, India

“…Among the Siwalik species of Democricetodon, the recovered m1 is very similar to D. fejfari. Recently, D. fejfari was also reported from the Middle Miocene K2 (Kulwanta) locality near Ramnagar, India (Parmar et al, 2022) and the Late Miocene of Gujarat, India (Bhandari et al, 2021;Patnaik et al, 2022). The m1 of D. fejfari is characterized by its relatively large size, small and single-cusped anteroconid, more offset lingual cusps that are mesially positioned compared to the labial cusps, lingually flexed posterior arm of the protoconid (resembling the mesolophid) directed toward the lingual margin of the tooth, and a short mesolophid (Lindsay, 2017).…”

The first report of cf. Zygolophodon (Mammalia, Proboscidea, Mammutidae) from the Upper Miocene of Kutch, India

“…This pseudo-conglomerate is equivalent to the fossiliferous conglomerate described by Bhandari et al (2018). Recent studies on rodent biostratigraphy have shown that these beds date to ∼10.0 Ma (Patnaik et al, 2022), therefore belonging to the early Tortonian (equivalent to the Vallesian age and MN 9 Zone in Europe, the early Bahean in China, and Nagri Faunal Zone in the Siwaliks).…”

“…15.9–13.8 Ma) sites of Palasava (Kapur et al, 2021) and Sambera (Samda) (Bhandari et al, 2015; Patnaik et al, 2014; Wynne, 1872), and the early Tortonian (ca. 11.0–10.0 Ma) localities of Tapar (Tappar) and Pasuda (Bhandari et al, 2010, 2018; Patnaik et al, 2022; Singh et al, 2020; van der Made et al, 2022). The fossil vertebrate assemblage from Tapar is diverse and includes fish (Singh et al, 2019), squamates (Čerňǎnský et al, 2022; Singh et al, 2021), and mammals (Bhandari et al, 2010, 2015, 2018; Patnaik et al, 2022; Singh et al, 2020).…”

“…11.0–10.0 Ma) localities of Tapar (Tappar) and Pasuda (Bhandari et al, 2010, 2018; Patnaik et al, 2022; Singh et al, 2020; van der Made et al, 2022). The fossil vertebrate assemblage from Tapar is diverse and includes fish (Singh et al, 2019), squamates (Čerňǎnský et al, 2022; Singh et al, 2021), and mammals (Bhandari et al, 2010, 2015, 2018; Patnaik et al, 2022; Singh et al, 2020).…”

Discovery of Parapelomys (Murinae) from the Siwalik Group of Mohand, NW Himalaya: Palaeobiogeography implications

“…Murine mice appear to have originated in the Indian subcontinent in the late early Miocene (Flynn et al, 2020). Their history is becoming well documented not only in the Potwar Plateau and northern India but also in Sindh, Pakistan (Wessels, 2009) and recently in Kutch, western India (Tapar and Pasuda, Bhandari et al, 2021; Patnaik et al, 2022). Modern Murines are a highly diverse mammalian group with nearly 600 species distributed among 130 genera (Musser & Carleton, 2005); species identifications and formal systematics may be recognised among their dental elements (molars), which fossilise readily and can reflect diet.…”