Eurasian and North American phylogeny of Turolian hipparionine horses (Perissodactyla, Mammalia) in China

Abstract

The late Miocene Chinese hipparions are morphologically diversified showing similarity to both western Old World's and North American forms. Two Chinese taxa that are phylogenetically related to western Old World's forms are Hipparion fossatum (= H. forstende) from Baode (Shanxi) and H. hippidiodus from Qingyang (Gansu) and Baode. The former is related to H. mediterraneum and the latter to H. urmiense - platygenys from the Turolian localities in the western Old World. H. fossatum and H. hippidiodus are associated with the “dorcadoides” (open-land) and “mixed” faunas in northern China. Hipparion fossatum that is characterized by POF located close to the orbit co-occurs with large and morphologically specialized form, H. dermatorhinum in Baode (Loc.30). H. hippidiodus with reduced POF is discovered with smaller H. coelophyes in Loc. 43, 44 (Baode) and Loc. 115 (Gansu).The hipparions associated with the “gaudryi” (forest) fauna are characterized by well defined and small POF located far from the orbit. Those forms are: H. platyodus from Loc. 70; H. ptychodus from Loc. 73; H. tylodus from Hsi-Liang in Yushe - Wuxiang basins; and H. sefvei from Loc. 12 at Xin-an in Henan province. H. coelophyes from Baode (Loc.43 & 44) and Qingyang (Loc. 115) also show similar facial morphology to the these forms, although it has small size and shallow POF. Those forms are similar in facial and dental morphology to Hipparion sensu stricto and some species of Cormohipparion in North America.The assemblages of Chinese hipparions are composed of two groups whose members are phylogenetically similar to the forms from both western part of Eurasia and North America. The “gaudryi” fauna is considered younger than the other two on the basis of faunal analyses. The similarity in hipparionine taxonomy between northern China and North America in the latest Miocene is an evidences for possible faunal interchange(s) occurred during that period, as suggested by taxonomic analyses on carnivores and proboscideans in eastern half of Eurasia and North America.