New specimen of Conohyus indicus (Lydekker, 1884) (Mammalia: Suidae) from the base of the Late Miocene, Jammu, India

Abstract

Conohyus indicus is a poorly known tetraconodont suid from the summit of the Lower Siwaliks and the base of the Middle Siwaliks of the Indian Subcontinent. Even though it was first recorded well over a century ago, only 13 specimens have since been described in the literature, consisting of isolated teeth and incomplete mandible and maxilla fragments. We here describe another fragmentary mandible from the Ramnagar Member (uppermost Middle Miocene to basal Late Miocene) of the Siwalik Group, which contains the left canine lacking its tip, the alveolus of P/1 and the left P/2 – P/3 and right P/3 - M/1. The new specimen, albeit incomplete,provides interesting information about the anterior parts of the jaw and throws light on the systematic position of the species as well as the recently described species Conohyus thailandicus from Thailand.