MIDDLE EOCENE LARGE MAMMAL ASSEMBLAGE WITH TETHYAN AFFINITIES, GANDA KAS REGION, PAKISTAN

Abstract

A new collection of fossil mammals from the vicinity of Ganda Kas, along the southern edge of the Kala Chitta hills, Pakistan, provides new insights into the Paleogene faunas of southern Asia. Nineteen genera are now known from Ganda Kas, one described here as new. In addition, several taxa are referred to the Cetacea, Khirtharia is returned to the Helohyidae and shown to be a senior synonym of Bunodentus, and Pilgrimella pilgrimi is a junior synonym of Anthracobune pinfoldi which is a tethythere closely allied to the Moeritheriidae. The excellent new material of Khirtharia, Anthracobune and Lammidhania allows more complete description of their dentitions and, in the case of Khirtharia, the skull, than was previously possible. The abundance and diversity of cetaceans and tethytheres at Ganda Kas suggests marked affinities of South Asian faunas with the other major Tethyan Eocene assemblage at Fayum, Egypt. Other affinities are with eastern Asia through the brontotheres and artiodactylis. Lammidhania is retained in the Anthracotheriidae, although it surely is atypical and may, when the upper dentition is known, belong elsewhere. The fossil mammals from Ganda Kas fit well with the coastal environment pos- tulated for Kuldana and Kohat Formation rocks.