New remains of Elephantidae from the Upper Siwalik subgroup (Plio-Pleistocene) of Pakistan

Abstract

The Siwalik sequence saw the appearance and spread of the family Elephantidae in the Indian subcontinent during the Plio-Pleistocene epochs. Elephas flourished and underwent species turnover during the Plio-Pleistocene of the Siwalik Group. The newly discovered specimens include serially arranged M2-3 and partial maxillary fragment with M2 of Elephas planifrons, and M3 and partial dp4 of Elephas hysudricus from the Pinjor Formation (Pleistocene) of the Siwaliks. A tusk from the Tatrot Formation (Pliocene) of the Siwaliks, has been assigned to Elephantoidea indet. Based on the comparison with the stratigraphically well-dated mammalian fauna from the various Siwalik localities of the Indian subcontinent, the age of Sardhok, Panjan Sher Shahana and Kurla Sharif range is suggested to be from the Late Pliocene (Piacenzian) to Late Early Pleistocene (Calabrian), and a savannah like environment is suggested for these localities.