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1 December 2012 The Gomphotheriid Mammal Platybelodon from the Middle Miocene of Linxia Basin, Gansu, China
Shiqi Wang, Wen He, Shanqin Chen
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Abstract

In this paper, we report on abundant fossils of Platybelodon from the Middle Miocene of the Linxia Basin, China. Most of the fossils were discovered at two localities (Laogou and Zengjia) in the upper Middle Miocene Hujialiang Formation, and possess derived characters for the genus, including a relatively slender upper incisor, the development of a transverse ledge on the narrowest part of the mandibular symphysis, narrow, elongate and hypsodont third molars, the development of fourth loph(id)s on the second molars, and the development of small enamel conules and cementum in the interloph(id)s. Following comparisons with other Eurasian platybelodonts, we assign these remains to Platybelodon grangeri, and demonstrate that they are morphologically intermediate between P. grangeri from the Tunggurian localities of Tarim Nor and Platybelodon Quarry in Inner Mongolia. We suggest that the locality of Laogou may be younger than that of Zengjia, based on the occurrence of platybelodonts showing a suite of more derived characters. In addition, we assign two further specimens of Platybelodon from the lower Middle Miocene Dongxiang Formation of the Linxia Basin to Platybelodon danovi, owing to their retention of plesiomorphic characters distinguishing them from other Linxia Platybelodon fossils. Based on a cladistic analysis, we propose an evolutionary sequence of platybelodonts in Eurasia, and discuss potential functional adaptations.

© 2013 S. Wang et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Shiqi Wang, Wen He, and Shanqin Chen "The Gomphotheriid Mammal Platybelodon from the Middle Miocene of Linxia Basin, Gansu, China," Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 58(2), 221-240, (1 December 2012). https://doi.org/10.4202/app.2011.0009
Received: 12 February 2011; Accepted: 17 November 2011; Published: 1 December 2012
KEYWORDS
China
cladistics
Eurasia
gomphotheriidae
LinxiaBasin
Mammalia
Miocene
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