Bovidae and Giraffidae from the Baynunah Formation

Study of new and previously discovered remains indicates the presence at least three giraffidGiraffidae (giraffid) eight bovid species in Baynunah Formation. Among giraffids, most significant find is a partial skeleton attributed to Palaeotragus aff. germainiaff. . A large sivathereSivatheriinae (sivathere) possibly Samotherium boissieri are also present. Bovids include Pachyportax latidens, Miotragocerus cyrenaicus, Afrotragus libycus, Prostrepsiceros vinayaki, two indeterminate small species. Separation postcranial material into broad size categories reveals an additional not represented by cranial remains. Though number, giraffid assemblage as rich late Miocene sites Lothagam or SiwaliksSiwaliks. All identified genera otherwise known from eastern Africa, MediterraneanMediterranean, southern Asia. The richness community, combined with lack any obvious endemics, suggests that mammal assembly Formation may have relied part on dispersals nearby regions following appearance humid conditions over Arabian Peninsula. Such pattern climatically-induced local extirpation followed re-establishment might characterized much Arabia’s NeogeneNeogene history, continuing PleistocenePleistocene present day.