On the oldest Mongolian moschids (Mammalia, Ruminantia) and the early moschid evolution

Abstract

In contrast to Europe, the fossil record of Miocene Moschidae in Asia remains extremely scarce (so far exclusively from China). The description of at least two moschids from the same locality of Ulan Tolgoi (Valley of Lakes, Mongolia) provides new insights into the early evolution of this ruminant family. The two different species (Moschidae indet. and Micromeryx cf. primaevus) are larger than the oldest known European Moschidae. The Moschidae indet. specimens belong to a Moschidae combining characteristics of Micromeryx and Hispanomeryx. However, the scarcity of the material (three teeth) does not allow the erection of a new taxon. A detailed study of all potential moschid specimens from Asia and further field work would be necessary to solve this issue and to better understand the moschid fossil diversity in Asia.