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A new genus of treeshrew and other micromammals from the middle Miocene hominoid locality of Ramnagar, Udhampur District, Jammu & Kashmir, India

Sehgal, Ramesh1; Singh, Abhishek1; Gilbert, Christopher2; Patel, Biren3; Campisano, Christopher4; Selig, Keegan5; Patnaik, Rajeev6; Premjit Singh, Ningthoujam1

Published Apr 14, 2022; Updated Jun 03, 2022 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.8kprr4xqk

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Apr 14, 2022 version files 42.40 KB

Abstract

The fossil record of treeshrews, hedgehogs, and other micromammals from the Lower Siwaliks of India is sparse. Here, we report on a new genus and species of fossil treeshrew, specimens of the hedgehog Galerix, and other micromammals from the middle Miocene (Lower Siwalik) deposits surrounding Ramnagar (Udhampur District, Jammu & Kashmir), at a fossil locality known as Dehari. The treeshrew from Dehari (Sivatupaia ramnagarensis gen. nov. et sp. nov.) currently represents the oldest record of fossil tupaiids in the Siwaliks, extending their time range by ~2.5-4.0 million years in the region. Dietary analyses suggest that the new tupaiid was likely adapted for a less mechanically challenging or more frugivorous diet compared to other extant and fossil tupaiids. The occurrence of Galerix has only been recently documented from the Indian Siwaliks and the Dehari specimens help establish the likely presence of a relatively large Siwalik Galerix species in the Ramnagar region. In addition to the new treeshrew and hedgehogs, new specimens of the rodents Kanisamys indicus, Sayimys sivalensis, and Murinae indet. from Dehari help confirm age estimates for the Ramnagar region equivalent to the Chinji Formation in Pakistan, most likely corresponding to the middle to upper part of the Chinji Formation.