The Vallesian bovid association from the Ouranopithecus-bearing site of Xirochori-1 (Axios Valley, Greece)

Abstract

The study of the bovid assemblage from the primate-bearing site of Xirochori-1 in Axios Valley, Northern Greece, reveals the presence of four taxa, namely Gazella sp., Ouzocerus cf. pentalophosi, Helladorcas sp. and ‘Protoryx’ sp., and allows updating the faunal list of the Xirochori-1 Vallesian mammal fauna, dated at around 9.6 Ma. Gazella sp. from Xirochori-1 is distinct from Gazella sp. from the late Early Vallesian fauna from Pentalophos-1, suggesting the presence of two gazelle lineages in the Vallesian of Greece, the former possibly related to the Turolian Gazella pilgrimi. The solid evidence of Ouzocerus and Helladorcas in Xirochori-1 extends the ranges of these two genera into the Late Vallesian of Greece, whereas the presence of a large bovid of the ‘Protoryx group’ increases the signal of caprine-like bovids in the Vallesian of the area. The revision of the Xirochori-1 bovids allows reconsidering the changes through time of the artiodactyl assemblage associated with the hominoid primate Ouranopithecus.