JOURNAL OF THE PALEONTOLOGIGAL SOCIETY OF INDIA vou. 30, 1985, pp. 39—62 FIRST RECORD OF DORCATHERIUM NAGRI (1RAGULIDAE, MAMMALIA) FROM LOWER SIWALIKS OF RAMNAGAR AREA (J & K), INDIA. R.N. VASISHATS, R. GAUR? ax §, R, K, CHOPRA® 1. DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY, PANJAB UNIVERSITY, cHaxproaRtt-160014 2. PUNJARE UNIVERSITY, PATIALA ausTRACT. A nearly complete and well-preserved manclible of Doratherum nagriis deseribed. Besides being the fist record of D.nagrii fkoan the Chinji Formation at Ramnagae (Jammu and Kashmir), iis, 30 far, the most complete specimen of D-nagri described from the Indian Siwalik. INTRODUCTION one kilometer east of Ramnagar (Fig. 1). This species, ‘The Lower Siwalik deposits of Ramnagar area Which is known from the Siwalik of Potwar plateaus (J & K) are well-known to palacontologists and palacoa~ nthropologists for their mammlian fossils, especially primates, Explorations of this area, over the years, have yielded a number of significant prosimiars and homi- noids, viz. Sivaladapis palacindicus, Sivapithecus indicus, Sivopithecus sivatensis, and Ramapithecus punjabias. Very recently, Chopra (1983) described for the first time a fossil orang, Sivasimia chijiensis, from the Chinji beds of this area. ‘The Chinji deposits of this area are represented by sequences of fine to mediium-grained sandstone and clay beds which are arranged in an alternate manner. ‘The sandstones are grey, reddish and reddish brown while the varigated clays dominate over the sandstones. ‘The sanclstone units occasionally display ripple marks and Figure 1, Generalised locality map of the arca. desiccation fissures on the surface. As the rock units of this area have not been datel radiomersieally or magne- Pakistan andl Haritalyangar area (H. P.), was hitherto tostratigraphically, no absolute dates are available. unrecorded from Rammnagar area, ‘The present discovery However, the faunal assemblage of Ramnagar area ig the best preserved and the most complete specimen shows a close similarity with the fauna from Chinji of D. nogri describe from the Siwalik deposits of the Formation of Potwar Plateau, Pakistan (Vasishat ef al, Indian Subcontinent, ‘The relative completeness of the 1978) which is believed to be 11 to 13 Myr old (Pilbeam present material has enabled the authors to give a more etal, 1973), complete iagnosis of D. nagri Very little has been published about the fossil Order Artiodactyla owes, 1848 mammals from the Ramnagar area. Notable contribu- Family ‘Tragulidae muxe eowanos, 1864 tions to the palacontology and geology of this region Genus Doxcatherium wave, 1833 were mad: by Brown (1924), Pilgrim (1927), Colbert Species Dorcatherium nogrit PRasav, 1970. (1935), Dutta etal, (1976), Vasishat et al. (1978, 1979), ‘Thomas and Verma (1979), Gaur (1985), and Chopra (Plate Taf). (1983). In the present communication we describe Revised specific diagrasis : Xsmall species of Dor= ‘hwo mandibular halves, of the same individual, of Dor catherium about 40 to 50% smaller than D. nas, catherium nagrii from the Chinji Formation exposed about 20-30% smaller than D, minus, and about 30% larger60 RN. VASISHAT, R.CAUR AND 8. R. K. CHOPRA than D, minimus. Upper molars with strong mesostyle 5 cingulum. slightly developed but well-developed on M%; M? comparatively small, Differs from D. majus and D. minus in the absence of basal internal pillars on maxillary molars. Mandible thin and slender, thickest below Ms, Lower molars less hypsodont wich anterior and posterior cingular developments. Basal external pillar on lower molars vestige and much less developed than in D. majus and D. neiws. Lower molars with double folds on the distal side of protaconidl and para~ conid. M, comparatively small (Revised after Prasad, 1968 ; Vasishat, 19 Material : PUA 89/26 RN, efi and right mandi ular halves with Py, dm, and MyMs. Describtim + Present specimen consists of left and right mandibular halves of the same individual, ‘The rright half is betier preserved than the feft. The left ramus consists of dm, and MyM and ight ramus is comprised of P,, dm, and My-M,. ‘The specimen belongs fo young individual as Py and Py have not erupted yet “Phe mandible is thin and shallow. ‘The non-alveolar part of the horizontal ramit has thinned down due 17 compaction within the sediments, ‘Phe harivontal and ascending ramii_form an angle of less than 90° with ceach other. The horizontal ramus is thin anteriorly and gradually thickens towards the posterior sie. ‘The left mandibular halfis broken in front of dm, and its ventral border is damaged. The right half lacks a major portion of the ascending ramus and a patt of the ventral border Te is broken at the symphysis exposing a roughly oval surface of the symphyseal joint, The buccal surface of the horizontal rams is smooth. The lingual surface shows a shallow depression which commences faintly Delow dm, and gradually widens posteriorly. A compa- ratively thin ascending ramus starts immediately behind M, and moves upwards and backwards to ecrminare superiorly at the posteriorly directed coronoid process. ‘The mandibular condyle is expanded laterally with a nearly flat superior surface. On its Bagual surface the ascending ramus shows a small depression which lodges an anteriorly and inferiorly directed mandibular foramen. As the horizontal ramus is broken anteriorly, the mental foramen is not preserved. A comparatively narrow and shallow groove starts at the mandibular foramen and travels antero-inferiorly for a litle distance. ‘The sigmoid notch of the ascending ramus is small and ‘opens posteriorly. ‘The maximum depth of the mandible is below My. Pot It is clongated in shape and shows a slight but gradual increase in bread from the mesial to the distal fend, ‘The anterior accessary cuspid is slightly chipped. ‘The principal cuspid and the posterior accessory cuspid! are well-preserved, There is no wear on the tooth, am This tooth is roughly rectangular in outline and exhibits deep wear, much more than the preceding P, and succeeding My. The anterior part of thi left dimy and the distal part of right dm, is damaged, Due to high wear most of the crown details have been « Traces of distal fosettid are however visible in te of « bueco-lingually compressed enamel shane. f Duccat cingular developments can be observed ewe the middle and posterior fobes My: ‘The right My is damaged but the left on is heau:'= fully preserved. Tt is rectangular in shape and all th four major conids, viz. protoconid, paraconid, mevae onid and hypoconid, are well-developed half of the molar exhibits more wear than th ie tooth shows slightly outbowed ibs on the lingusl side, The stylids are however mesiat wall of the molar is tightly pressed againse the distal wall of dm, Nevertheless, traces of ant ggulum can be noticed at the mesio-buecal and mesio- Fingal angles of the molar. ‘The posterior cingulum is more easy to differentiate. Due to differential wear on the mesial and distal halves of the tooth, the prefossettid as became relatively shallow. A weakly-developed external bosal pillar can be seen on the buccal side between the mesial and distal halves of M, ‘The distal parts of protoconidl ant pors two enamel folls each, In the micdle of she Duccal fold of proteconid meets with 2 crest leaving the tap of hypoconid. ‘The lingual fold of protean along with the buccal fold of paraconid joins \with the anterior rest of metaconid in the middle of the tooth. ‘The double enamel fold of protoconid is more pronounced than that of paraconid, ‘he mesial and, distal barrels of M, seem to be set slightly obliqueiy w the long axis of the tooth row. The tooth enamel is smooth and. shining. indistinguishable niesial enamel My It is similar to M, in its basic crown morphol However, itis larger (Table 1) and displays only traces of wear. The double enamel folds on the protnconid and paraconid are better developed. The anterior and poucrior cingular devefopments are more pronounced. On tho lingual side, at the mesio-lingual angle, the lingual cingulum is developed in the form of a small enamel tubercle. ‘The external basal pillar is comparst- tively less developed.FIRST RECORD OF DORCATHERIUM NAGRII (TRAGULIDAE, MAMMALIA) ‘Table 1 Comparative measurements 61 fin mm) of the lower teeth of some species of Doreatherium Se Messurement De nogrit, Dominus — De majus Disp. Nu a Gaur Preseat Prasad, 1970 Colbert Colbert ber 1935 etal specimen 19351985, Amer. Amer. 1980 PUA GSINo. GSINo. Amer, Amer, Mus, No. Mus. No. MN, 89/76 K2IL6S8 18079 K2LT#4 Mus. No, Mus. No. 19524 19369 10/784, RN 19613-19365, 1. Max. length of malar se (Meat) 200 8 - ~ — - 2. Max. maio-dinal dia 60 = - - - — ~ - 9.0000 ~ ~ = oo — TO 7.000 6.50 — = 1350 = 89 750 6.60 7.50 8.00 18.00 16.00 17.808 Iso 10.00 9.005000 250% 15.70 3. Max, buccorlingual dia 210 — - - — - - - 3300 s = a ee = #10 4.00 3.60 — ee — #90 4.50 4.00400 4,70" 7,50 11.00 9,908 5200 4.50 4.50 5.00* 8.00 00840 4. Max. crown height 3200 = ~ — = ~ - - 1.90 — - = = — ~ - - 3m — = - a - 5.500 = — 3.408 B00" 12.00 13,008 = - = 5408 008 se Index (max. buco-lingual dia! 33.00 = = = = - - - - ‘max. mesio-distal dia, x109 36.65 — 7 — = ae — SM ST. 95.98 — er - 59.03 60,00 60.60 $8.93 58,75 57.69 68.75 568.10 4952 45.00 50,003.47 SL 1G 53.400 6. Height of ramus below Mz 13.00 = nso ~ ~ ee ‘calculated from the figure. Ms This tooth has not completely erupted. Two mesial conids, viz. protoconid and paraconid, are fully visible while the metaconid and hypoconid are partially ex posed. The posterior talonid has not yet cut the bone. Horizon : Chinji Formation of Lower Siwaliks. Locality : About 1.0 km, east of Ramnagar. Remarks Tragulus, the Asian chevrotian, and Hyemoschus, the Aftican water chevrotian, are the two surviving genera of the many Mio-Pliocene tragulid genera. Two tragulid genera, namely Doracabune and Dorcatherium, are known from the Neogene Siwalik deposits. Genus Dorcatherium is represented by four species, vie. D. majus D. minus, D. nagrii and D. minimus, in the Siwaliks. Another species of Dorcatherium D. sp., suggested by Colbert (1935), was renamed as D. nagrii by Prasad (1970). The present mandible differs from D. majus and D. minus by the absence of a strong accessory pillar. It differs from D. minus by its smaller size, being 20-30% smaller (Table 1), and relatively less hypsodont teeth, Tt further differs from D. minus by the vestigeal nature of its external basal pillar, which is comparatively more reported from the Pakistan by West prominent in D. minus. D. minimus Chinji Formation of Daud Khel, (1980), is known by maxillary last molars. Therefore, direct morphological comparison of the present specie men with D. minimus is not possible. However, the size Of D. minimus s about 70% that of D. nagrii (West, 1980). In its morphology the specimen under study comes more close to D. nagri.. Metically too, it is very much comparable to.the mandibular teeth of D. nagrii (Table 1). In view of its morphological and metrical similarities with D. nagri, the present specimen is assigned to Dor ‘catherium nagri. Tn the Siwalik Group of India the tragulids probably first appeared in the Chinji Formation of Lower Siwalik.0 RN, VASISHAT, R, GAUR AND S.R. K, CHOPRA Out of the two Siwalik tragulid genera, Dorcabune is relatively larger and displays more primitive characters. Tn the Chinji deposits Doveaune is known by a single species, D. anthracothervies, This species probably gave way to.a smaller form, viz, Dorcabunenogriy in the Nagi Formation of Middle Siwalik, which persisted into the Dhokpathan Formation and then probably became extine. Teague nage Dmaus Drege Dsus Deresbune Doreatne. Dorsaine. entnescot Pum un proces” minimus Paks igure 2. Evolutionary sequence of Sivalik tragulids. ‘The other tragulid genus Doreatherium is represented in the Chinji sediments by four species, viz. D. minimus, Dz nagrii, D. minus and D. majus. D. minimus is the smallest Siwalik tragulid and is restricted to the Chinji Forma- tion, ‘The eemaining three tragulid species are abundant in the Nagei Formation of Middle Siwalik and two of these, D. minus and D. majus continue into Dhokpathan, Formation of Middle Siwalik where these are less frequent. ‘The existence of Dorcatherium nagrii in the Dhokpathan Formation is not confirmed. In the Upper Siwalik the tragulids are very rare and only two reports are available, one of Dorcatherium sp. from Tawvot For ‘mation by Pilgrim (vide Prasad, 1970) and the secon also of Dorcatherium sp. from Pinjor Formation of Upper Siwalik by Gaur et al, (1980). ‘The Dorcatherium sp. of Gaur e al (1930) has beeti assigned to D. minus by Sankhyan (1981). Due to their fragmentary and insufficient nature, the phylogenetic relationships of Upper Siwalik tragulids have not been worked out in detail, Nevertheless, the circumstantial evidence suggests that these could be the ones in line leading to the modern Fadian tcagulid Tragulus. A hypothetical model of the evolution of Siwalik tragulids is pre: in figure-2, REFERENCES Baoww B., Greoony, W. K., Axo Hetiwas, M. 1924. On three ine ‘complete a thropoid jaws from the Siwalits, India, Amer. Mus, Novitates. 130 #1 Guorna, §. R. K. 1983. Significance of new hominaid. discoveries from the Sivalik Hills of India. In : New Interetations of Ape and Human Ancetry (Giochen, R. Land Coerucini, R.S., Eds.) enum, New York : 539-357. Couwere, B. H. 1935. Siwalik mammal in the American Museum of Natural History. Trans. Amr. Phil Soc, N.S, 264 1-400 Durra. ALK, Bas, P. K., ano Sastit, M.V._ A, 1978. On the sew finds of hominids and adulitional finds of pongids fom the Siwaliks of Ramnazar area, Udhampur District, J & K Seats. Inds Jour. Earth Sei, (8) + 234-235. Gaur, R., 1985, Environment and ecology of Neogene Siwallk sede ments 07 Ramagar (Jammu and Kashi, ia Thnds in Gaology voluma> VL ‘elimat: and Geology 0: Bas. D.P. Agarwal etal, ‘Today and Tomoris; Nes Dali 11-139, Gaur, Ry Vassinar, R.N., aNo SaNKHYAN, A. R.J9B9, The fst record of Dorathrinm (eagulidac) from the Pijoe For ast of Chandigarh, Bul. Ind. Geol. Assn, 1 #67 7 Puseasy, D, Barry, J, Maver, G. Ey, Suan, SM N.H.L, liswor, WW, W., Tuosts, H., axe Jacons, Le L. 1977, Geology and Palaeontology of Neogene Straia of Pakistan, Nate 270 : 68-689, Prone, G. E. 1927. A Siopieas palate and other primate fossils from India. Pal. nia, N. S., Ws 1-24, Paasao, K. N. 1970, The vertebrate fauna fram the Siwalik beds ot Havtalyangar, Himachal Pradesh, India, Pal. dia. N. S- Prearosi B97 7) Sewmnvasy ALR. 191, The fist record of Doreti rim (Crogulidse) com the DSokpathan formation dilute Siwalike) of Hyvitalyasagar area, Himes! Xi Gal 12: 91-97 uous, H., AND Visita, SN. 1979. 1)Scaser 2 forme (Sivaladapinae Sub daatle Mb Ramn.gat (Jammu ct Cache, Inde. C.K. eas. Set, Peri 289 £83803, tar, RN. 1903, Antonede ts of ently nna is noethwester: India: Palacmmgico! ancl paleroecltcal eileen, Unters Indis, Now Delhi 1-250. ‘Vasnitat, RN, Gatis, Ry AND Corea, SR. K, 1978, Geology Fauna and Palacosnvironments of Lower Siwalik deposits aroune Ramnagar, India, Nature, 275 + 790-737. ‘Vasiatat, RLN., Katt, S. ano Corea, S. R, K, 1979, Additional Suid material from the Lower Siwalik of Ramaagar,J & K State, Tindia. Geol Sue. Inia Mie, Publ, 45 + 219-225, West, R. M1980, A minute new species of Deratervm Tragul Mammalia) from the Chinji Forwation near Daucl Kh! Md wali District, Pakistan, Miluwale Public Mast Oro! Bs. Gos 33 #166 EXPLANATION OF PLATE. Prare T Manalible of Dorcatierium nagii ftom Lower Siwalik of Ramnagar, ac. Left ranue occlusal views b—Tingual def Right ramus d—ecchisal views e—buccal views lingual view. (Bar repre-ents one em.) iews e—buceal view.Journal of the Palacoatolosical Society of India, Volume 30, 1985 PLATE I WIVASISHAT, GAUR & CHOPRA