akbar khan | University of the Punjab (original) (raw)
Papers by akbar khan
Giraffokeryx remains are described from Chinji Formation of Lower Siwaliks. The material referred... more Giraffokeryx remains are described from Chinji Formation of Lower Siwaliks. The material referred to this species comprises mandible fragments and isolated teeth. The studied specimens have been compared with the relevant specimens in the Geological Survey of India, American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) and Punjab University Paleontological Collection Stored in Zoology Department (Pakistan). The lower cheek teeth are quadrate with a very weak stylids, median ribs and ectosytlids. In most of the specimens, there is a trend towards the heightening of the crown from the lower Chinji to the upper Chinji Formation.
Some new Proamphibos fossils have been reported from Quaternary basin near Sardhok village in Guj... more Some new Proamphibos fossils have been reported from Quaternary basin near Sardhok village in Gujrat, northern Pakistan. The Sardhok Proamphibos sample includes an opisthocranium, maxillar and mandibular fragments, and isolated dentition. The bovine is well known in the Pakistani Siwaliks during Pleistocene. Proamphibos was represented by a reasonable number of specimens suggesting that the niche probably was filled by the large bovines. The new specimens suggest wooded grassland habitat and faunal turnover after 2.5 Ma. The paper represents one of the best Proamphibos records ever found from the subcontinent Siwaliks.
Tragoportax is one of the best represented bovids in the Dhok Pathan type locality, northern Paki... more Tragoportax is one of the best represented bovids in the Dhok Pathan type locality, northern Pakistan. The new tragoportacin remains comprise predominantly isolated teeth, maxilla and mandible fragments. There are eight specimens that can be referred to three tragoportacin taxa, namely Tragoportax cf. punjabicus, Tragoportax cf. browni and Tragoportax sp. The new material provides taxonomy updating of the Dhok Pathan type locality.
New hipparionine remains from the Dhok Pathan type locality of the Chakwal district, Punjab, Paki... more New hipparionine remains from the Dhok Pathan type locality of the Chakwal district, Punjab, Pakistan, are described and discussed. The discovered material is attributed to two species Sivalhippus cf. theobaldi and Cremohipparion cf. antelopinum; each is represented by seven specimens. The recovered fossils contribute additional knowledge on the dental features of the Dhok Pathan's hipparionine horses.
New giraffid remains comprising upper dentition recovered from the Parrhewala outcrops (Upper Chi... more New giraffid remains comprising upper dentition recovered from the Parrhewala outcrops (Upper Chinji Formation) of the Lower Siwaliks, northern Pakistan. The remains are assigned to Giraffa priscilla. Giraffa priscilla is endemic to the Lower Siwaliks and is unknown from outside of this region. G. priscilla is found in the Middle Miocene (14.2-11.2 Ma) of the Siwaliks. All the described specimens have broad crown, strong styles and median ribs.
Dental remains of the rhinoceroses comprising right and left fragmentary maxillae bear first, sec... more Dental remains of the rhinoceroses comprising right and left fragmentary maxillae bear first, second and third molars are recovered from the Dhok Pathan Formation of the Middle Siwaliks. The remains are identified and assigned to Aceratherium sp. as well as these are compared with the other late Miocene rhinoceroses Aceratherium perimense, A. abeli, A. incisivum and Chilotherium intermedium. The findings allow discussion on the diversity of the late Miocene rhinoceroses.
Figure 1. Scatter plot for fruit weight (g) and B. dorsalis oviposition punctures (#) in three ma... more Figure 1. Scatter plot for fruit weight (g) and B. dorsalis oviposition punctures (#) in three mango varieties.
The fossil record of the Siwalik tragulids remains poorly documented. The study of the tragulid m... more The fossil record of the Siwalik tragulids remains poorly documented. The study of the tragulid material from the Chinji Formation allows the identification of 3 species: Dorcatherium minus, Dorcatherium majus and Dorcabune anthracotherioides. The tragulid assemblage is quite rich and Dorcatherium is the predominant taxon in the Chinji Formation of Pakistan. The fossils from the Chinji Formation of the Chakwal district, northern Pakistan, may document the first appearance of the 3 tragulid species in the Lower Siwaliks. The selenodonty and palaeoecology of the Siwalik tragulids are also discussed.
We describe here a suid molar originating from the Late Miocene Dhok Pathan type locality (Chakwa... more We describe here a suid molar originating from the Late Miocene Dhok Pathan type locality (Chakwal, Punjab, Pakistan) of Dhok Pathan Formation, Middle Siwaliks, Northern Pakistan. The molar belongs to the large sized Pliocene suid Tetraconodon. The specimen, which is attributed to a tetraconodon, reliably matches with T. magnus, a rare taxon previously found in the Pliocene of the Siwaliks. The presence of this species in the Late Miocene of the Dhok Pathan type locality represents the oldest record in the Siwaliks.
A left horn core of Sivaceros gradiens Pilgrim 1937 from Dhok Bun Amir Khatoon in the Lower Siwal... more A left horn core of Sivaceros gradiens Pilgrim 1937 from Dhok Bun Amir Khatoon in the Lower Siwaliks of Pakistan was recovered, identified, and compared. Earlier specimens of S. gradiens excavated from the Lower Siwaliks of Pakistan were difficult to date. Conversely, the new material of S. gradiens from the Lower Siwaliks of Dhok Bun Amir Khatoon suggests an early Middle Miocene age (lower Chinji) for this species.
First and second lower molars of Selenoportax vexillarius, collected from the late Miocene of Has... more First and second lower molars of Selenoportax vexillarius, collected from the late Miocene of Hasnot (Middle Siwaliks) are described in this paper. The studied specimens were collected during previous decades by palaeontological expeditions working in the late Miocene sediments of Hasnot, and are housed in the Abu Bakr Fossil The studied specimens are compared with relevant specimens at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) and the Punjab University Palaeontological Collection (PUPC). The variation in size in the dentition of S. vexillarius is also observed. The sediments of Hasnot comprise a late Miocene vertebrate fauna constrained to between 7 and 5 million years ago, including a variety of boselaphine bovids which distinguish the sediments from the other sediments of the Siwaliks.
Selenoportax is a large sized bovid only present in the Siwaliks and hitherto its four species ha... more Selenoportax is a large sized bovid only present in the Siwaliks and hitherto its four species have been identified. Three species (Selenoportax vexillarius, S. lydekkeri, S. dhokpathanensis) are described from the Middle Siwaliks and one (S. tatrotensis) from the Upper Siwaliks. No species has been still found from the Lower Siwaliks. The present study is based on 16 specimens collected from Hasnot, the Middle Siwaliks and all the collected specimens belong to the species, S. vexillarius and S. lydekkeri but in this paper only the species S. vexillarius are described, comprising the nine specimens. This crucial finding leaves the position of S. tatrotensis and S. dhokpathanensis in doubt. The identification of the species is based on the cranial material.
Four dental specimens are identified as a member of the Boselaphini (Bovidae) belonging to the ex... more Four dental specimens are identified as a member of the Boselaphini (Bovidae) belonging to the extinct genus Selenoportax Pilgrim 1937. The specimens were collected from an extraordinarily well exposed stratum of the Kundi Wala Kas from the late Miocene of the Middle Siwaliks, situated in the vicinity of Hasnot, District Jhelum, Pakistan. Distinctive morphological details of the collected teeth are preserved but comparison is not possible because the specimens are not in more numbers, and are described as cf. Selenoportax. The specimens comprise an isolated third upper premolar, an isolated left lower incisor, an isolated third lower premolar and a mandibular fragment with fourth deciduous and first molar. The taxonomic status of the Selenoportax is also discussed.
Two upper second and third molars of Selenoportax vexillarius are collected from Hasnot and descr... more Two upper second and third molars of Selenoportax vexillarius are collected from Hasnot and described in this paper. The molars are ever-preserved fossil specimens of S. vexillarius found from the Middle Siwaliks of Pakistan. All the morphological characters of the fossilized cheek teeth are excellently preserved and not any part of the specimens is damaged.
Fossil remains of the reduncines are preserved in the Siwalik Tatrot Formation of northern Pakist... more Fossil remains of the reduncines are preserved in the Siwalik Tatrot Formation of northern Pakistan. The Tatrot fauna is dominated by the bovids, represent most abundant taxa found from the Siwaliks. These specimens were discovered by the first author in the well dated late Pliocene deposits of the Potwar Plateau, northern Pakistan. The Pliocene deposits of the Tatrot Formation yielded fossil remains of reduncines, which are now grazing antelopes found in habitats associated with the vicinity of water. This discovery adds weight to the suggestion that the Pliocene reduncines inhabited the riverine galleys rather than the dry regions and moreover the sedimentary deposits of the Tatrot were the wetland area during the Pliocene epoch that documents the ancient biome.
The recovered material from the Dhok Pathan Formation of the Middle Siwalks of Pakistan are attri... more The recovered material from the Dhok Pathan Formation of the Middle Siwalks of Pakistan are attributed to Chilotherium intermedium. The new remains include premolars and molars of the species. The premolars have a constricted protocone which is the characteristic of genus Chilotherium. In The upper molar the ectoloph is flat and broad with a strong parastyle and the protocone is much less constricted off from the protooph. In the lower dentition all the characters are observed like, V-shaped trigonid, absence of lingual and labial cingulum, the hypolophid reclines backward and the entoconid have a flat lingual margin. All the characters are observed in the studied lower dentition which clearly identify the specimens belong to genus Chilotherium and species Chilotherium intermedium.
Newly discovered fossil material of Proamphibos kashmiricus from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Pinj... more Newly discovered fossil material of Proamphibos kashmiricus from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Pinjor Formation (2.6 -0.6 Ma) in the Upper Siwaliks (Pakistan) is reported and described here. The new specimen is one opisthocranium of a hornless skull attributed to a female individual of P. kashmiricus coming from the Plio-Pleistocene deposits of Rohtas (2.2 Ma) in the Jhelum district, northern Pakistan. The opisthocranium is the largest female individual described so far for this species and the morphology of the present specimen allow examining some skull anatomical features of P. kashmiricus. The validity of the genus Bucapra is also discussed and the synonymy with Proamphibos is proposed.
Giraffokeryx remains are described from Chinji Formation of Lower Siwaliks. The material referred... more Giraffokeryx remains are described from Chinji Formation of Lower Siwaliks. The material referred to this species comprises mandible fragments and isolated teeth. The studied specimens have been compared with the relevant specimens in the Geological Survey of India, American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) and Punjab University Paleontological Collection Stored in Zoology Department (Pakistan). The lower cheek teeth are quadrate with a very weak stylids, median ribs and ectosytlids. In most of the specimens, there is a trend towards the heightening of the crown from the lower Chinji to the upper Chinji Formation.
Some new Proamphibos fossils have been reported from Quaternary basin near Sardhok village in Guj... more Some new Proamphibos fossils have been reported from Quaternary basin near Sardhok village in Gujrat, northern Pakistan. The Sardhok Proamphibos sample includes an opisthocranium, maxillar and mandibular fragments, and isolated dentition. The bovine is well known in the Pakistani Siwaliks during Pleistocene. Proamphibos was represented by a reasonable number of specimens suggesting that the niche probably was filled by the large bovines. The new specimens suggest wooded grassland habitat and faunal turnover after 2.5 Ma. The paper represents one of the best Proamphibos records ever found from the subcontinent Siwaliks.
Tragoportax is one of the best represented bovids in the Dhok Pathan type locality, northern Paki... more Tragoportax is one of the best represented bovids in the Dhok Pathan type locality, northern Pakistan. The new tragoportacin remains comprise predominantly isolated teeth, maxilla and mandible fragments. There are eight specimens that can be referred to three tragoportacin taxa, namely Tragoportax cf. punjabicus, Tragoportax cf. browni and Tragoportax sp. The new material provides taxonomy updating of the Dhok Pathan type locality.
New hipparionine remains from the Dhok Pathan type locality of the Chakwal district, Punjab, Paki... more New hipparionine remains from the Dhok Pathan type locality of the Chakwal district, Punjab, Pakistan, are described and discussed. The discovered material is attributed to two species Sivalhippus cf. theobaldi and Cremohipparion cf. antelopinum; each is represented by seven specimens. The recovered fossils contribute additional knowledge on the dental features of the Dhok Pathan's hipparionine horses.
New giraffid remains comprising upper dentition recovered from the Parrhewala outcrops (Upper Chi... more New giraffid remains comprising upper dentition recovered from the Parrhewala outcrops (Upper Chinji Formation) of the Lower Siwaliks, northern Pakistan. The remains are assigned to Giraffa priscilla. Giraffa priscilla is endemic to the Lower Siwaliks and is unknown from outside of this region. G. priscilla is found in the Middle Miocene (14.2-11.2 Ma) of the Siwaliks. All the described specimens have broad crown, strong styles and median ribs.
Dental remains of the rhinoceroses comprising right and left fragmentary maxillae bear first, sec... more Dental remains of the rhinoceroses comprising right and left fragmentary maxillae bear first, second and third molars are recovered from the Dhok Pathan Formation of the Middle Siwaliks. The remains are identified and assigned to Aceratherium sp. as well as these are compared with the other late Miocene rhinoceroses Aceratherium perimense, A. abeli, A. incisivum and Chilotherium intermedium. The findings allow discussion on the diversity of the late Miocene rhinoceroses.
Figure 1. Scatter plot for fruit weight (g) and B. dorsalis oviposition punctures (#) in three ma... more Figure 1. Scatter plot for fruit weight (g) and B. dorsalis oviposition punctures (#) in three mango varieties.
The fossil record of the Siwalik tragulids remains poorly documented. The study of the tragulid m... more The fossil record of the Siwalik tragulids remains poorly documented. The study of the tragulid material from the Chinji Formation allows the identification of 3 species: Dorcatherium minus, Dorcatherium majus and Dorcabune anthracotherioides. The tragulid assemblage is quite rich and Dorcatherium is the predominant taxon in the Chinji Formation of Pakistan. The fossils from the Chinji Formation of the Chakwal district, northern Pakistan, may document the first appearance of the 3 tragulid species in the Lower Siwaliks. The selenodonty and palaeoecology of the Siwalik tragulids are also discussed.
We describe here a suid molar originating from the Late Miocene Dhok Pathan type locality (Chakwa... more We describe here a suid molar originating from the Late Miocene Dhok Pathan type locality (Chakwal, Punjab, Pakistan) of Dhok Pathan Formation, Middle Siwaliks, Northern Pakistan. The molar belongs to the large sized Pliocene suid Tetraconodon. The specimen, which is attributed to a tetraconodon, reliably matches with T. magnus, a rare taxon previously found in the Pliocene of the Siwaliks. The presence of this species in the Late Miocene of the Dhok Pathan type locality represents the oldest record in the Siwaliks.
A left horn core of Sivaceros gradiens Pilgrim 1937 from Dhok Bun Amir Khatoon in the Lower Siwal... more A left horn core of Sivaceros gradiens Pilgrim 1937 from Dhok Bun Amir Khatoon in the Lower Siwaliks of Pakistan was recovered, identified, and compared. Earlier specimens of S. gradiens excavated from the Lower Siwaliks of Pakistan were difficult to date. Conversely, the new material of S. gradiens from the Lower Siwaliks of Dhok Bun Amir Khatoon suggests an early Middle Miocene age (lower Chinji) for this species.
First and second lower molars of Selenoportax vexillarius, collected from the late Miocene of Has... more First and second lower molars of Selenoportax vexillarius, collected from the late Miocene of Hasnot (Middle Siwaliks) are described in this paper. The studied specimens were collected during previous decades by palaeontological expeditions working in the late Miocene sediments of Hasnot, and are housed in the Abu Bakr Fossil The studied specimens are compared with relevant specimens at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) and the Punjab University Palaeontological Collection (PUPC). The variation in size in the dentition of S. vexillarius is also observed. The sediments of Hasnot comprise a late Miocene vertebrate fauna constrained to between 7 and 5 million years ago, including a variety of boselaphine bovids which distinguish the sediments from the other sediments of the Siwaliks.
Selenoportax is a large sized bovid only present in the Siwaliks and hitherto its four species ha... more Selenoportax is a large sized bovid only present in the Siwaliks and hitherto its four species have been identified. Three species (Selenoportax vexillarius, S. lydekkeri, S. dhokpathanensis) are described from the Middle Siwaliks and one (S. tatrotensis) from the Upper Siwaliks. No species has been still found from the Lower Siwaliks. The present study is based on 16 specimens collected from Hasnot, the Middle Siwaliks and all the collected specimens belong to the species, S. vexillarius and S. lydekkeri but in this paper only the species S. vexillarius are described, comprising the nine specimens. This crucial finding leaves the position of S. tatrotensis and S. dhokpathanensis in doubt. The identification of the species is based on the cranial material.
Four dental specimens are identified as a member of the Boselaphini (Bovidae) belonging to the ex... more Four dental specimens are identified as a member of the Boselaphini (Bovidae) belonging to the extinct genus Selenoportax Pilgrim 1937. The specimens were collected from an extraordinarily well exposed stratum of the Kundi Wala Kas from the late Miocene of the Middle Siwaliks, situated in the vicinity of Hasnot, District Jhelum, Pakistan. Distinctive morphological details of the collected teeth are preserved but comparison is not possible because the specimens are not in more numbers, and are described as cf. Selenoportax. The specimens comprise an isolated third upper premolar, an isolated left lower incisor, an isolated third lower premolar and a mandibular fragment with fourth deciduous and first molar. The taxonomic status of the Selenoportax is also discussed.
Two upper second and third molars of Selenoportax vexillarius are collected from Hasnot and descr... more Two upper second and third molars of Selenoportax vexillarius are collected from Hasnot and described in this paper. The molars are ever-preserved fossil specimens of S. vexillarius found from the Middle Siwaliks of Pakistan. All the morphological characters of the fossilized cheek teeth are excellently preserved and not any part of the specimens is damaged.
Fossil remains of the reduncines are preserved in the Siwalik Tatrot Formation of northern Pakist... more Fossil remains of the reduncines are preserved in the Siwalik Tatrot Formation of northern Pakistan. The Tatrot fauna is dominated by the bovids, represent most abundant taxa found from the Siwaliks. These specimens were discovered by the first author in the well dated late Pliocene deposits of the Potwar Plateau, northern Pakistan. The Pliocene deposits of the Tatrot Formation yielded fossil remains of reduncines, which are now grazing antelopes found in habitats associated with the vicinity of water. This discovery adds weight to the suggestion that the Pliocene reduncines inhabited the riverine galleys rather than the dry regions and moreover the sedimentary deposits of the Tatrot were the wetland area during the Pliocene epoch that documents the ancient biome.
The recovered material from the Dhok Pathan Formation of the Middle Siwalks of Pakistan are attri... more The recovered material from the Dhok Pathan Formation of the Middle Siwalks of Pakistan are attributed to Chilotherium intermedium. The new remains include premolars and molars of the species. The premolars have a constricted protocone which is the characteristic of genus Chilotherium. In The upper molar the ectoloph is flat and broad with a strong parastyle and the protocone is much less constricted off from the protooph. In the lower dentition all the characters are observed like, V-shaped trigonid, absence of lingual and labial cingulum, the hypolophid reclines backward and the entoconid have a flat lingual margin. All the characters are observed in the studied lower dentition which clearly identify the specimens belong to genus Chilotherium and species Chilotherium intermedium.
Newly discovered fossil material of Proamphibos kashmiricus from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Pinj... more Newly discovered fossil material of Proamphibos kashmiricus from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Pinjor Formation (2.6 -0.6 Ma) in the Upper Siwaliks (Pakistan) is reported and described here. The new specimen is one opisthocranium of a hornless skull attributed to a female individual of P. kashmiricus coming from the Plio-Pleistocene deposits of Rohtas (2.2 Ma) in the Jhelum district, northern Pakistan. The opisthocranium is the largest female individual described so far for this species and the morphology of the present specimen allow examining some skull anatomical features of P. kashmiricus. The validity of the genus Bucapra is also discussed and the synonymy with Proamphibos is proposed.