Abstract
Kemiklitepe is a well-known locality with four recognised fossiliferous horizons, KTA to KTD, which have yielded a plethora of mammalian remains. Previous taxonomic studies indicate the presence of three giraffid taxa: Samotherium major and Palaeotragus rouenii from the uppermost three horizons, KTA, KTB and KTC, as well as Palaeotragus rouenii and Samotherium? sp. from the lowermost KTD horizon. In this study a new locality, Kemiklitepe-E, is presented for the first time. Kemiklitepe-E is located approximately 350 m NW of the classic Kemiklitepe locality. The fossiliferous sedimentary rocks at Kemiklitepe-E occur at the same stratigraphic level as localities KTA, KTB and KTC. The preliminary faunal list includes representatives of Proboscidea, Chalicotheriidae, Equidae, Bovidae and Giraffidae. Comprehensive descriptions and comparisons of the Kemiklitepe-E Giraffidae specimens suggest the co-occurrence of two large giraffids: Samotherium major and Helladotherium duvernoyi. Samotherium major, previously documented from this region, is the most common taxon at Kemiklitepe. Helladotherium duvernoyi is rare at Kemiklitepe and here reported for the first time. The two taxa coexisted during the middle Turolian in Greece and Western Anatolia. In addition, it is suggested that specimens of Samotherium? sp described from KTD possibly belong to Samotherium neumayri. Based on the stratigraphic position of fossiliferous rocks, as well as the faunal data presented herein, the newly discovered locality is considered to be of middle Turolian (MN12) age.
Highlights
The family Giraffidae includes pecoran ruminants, which, together with the Palaeomerycidae, are part of a large clade called Giraffomorpha (Sánchez et al 2015)
The giraffid remains from Kemiklitepe-E are scarce, the available fossils reveal the presence of two classic Turolian large giraffids: Helladotherium duvernoyi and Samotherium major
The fossil giraffid remains are comprehensively described and exhibit the presence of two large taxa: Helladotherium duvernoyi and Samotherium major. The latter constitutes the most common giraffid occurring at Kemiklitepe, while H. duvernoyi is reported for the first time
Summary
The family Giraffidae includes pecoran ruminants, which, together with the Palaeomerycidae, are part of a large clade called Giraffomorpha (Sánchez et al 2015). Representatives of Miocene Giraffidae are recurrent components of the so-called “Pikermian Biome”, which used to extend from the Iberian Peninsula to East Asia (Danowitz et al 2016 and literature cited therein). Common late Miocene large-sized giraffid taxa are Helladotherium and Samotherium. Helladotherium is monospecific and H. duvernoyi Gaudry and Lartet (1856) constitutes one of the most common largesized Miocene Giraffidae of the Eastern Mediterranean. Samotherium was a widespread genus and its largest species, S. major Bohlin (1926), is a common element of late Miocene fossiliferous sites but has only been reported from few Greek and Anatolian localities
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