A new sea cow record from the lower Oligocene of western Germany: new indications on the skeletal morphology of Halitherium schinzii (Mammalia: Sirenia)

Abstract

Since the discovery of the extinct species Halitherium schinzii in the Mainz Basin, sirenian remains from the German Oligocene are usually assigned to this taxon according to the assumption that this would be the only sea cow species there. The attempts of several authors to determine morphological distinctions on the species level remain unconsidered until today. The new find of a partial sea cow skeleton from the lower Oligocene of Bottrop-Kirchheller Heide (western Germany) stirs up the debate on splitting the species currently referred to as H. schinzii. The Bottrop specimen morphologically corresponds to skullcaps from the Mainz Basin and the Belgian Oligocene, which were the basis for the introduction of new species in the past, but are considered synonymous with H. schinzii today. Despite its fragmentary preservation, the new sirenian record reveals shared morphological features mainly referring to the supraoccipital, such as a distinctly rostrad indenting nuchal crest and a reduced external occipital protuberance. These features are in contrast to the prominent morphology of the specimens generally associated with H. schinzii and support the assumed presence of at least two morphotypes in the Oligocene of Central Europe. Additionally, the sea cow from Bottrop-Kirchheller Heide represents the first occurrence of skeletal elements, which are not preserved in the known specimens from this morphotype so far and may contribute to a better understanding of intra- and/or interspecific differences within Sirenia.