A NEW INDRATHERIUM FOSSIL GIRAFFE INDRATHERIUM COMPRESSUS SP. NOV. FROM SIWALIK FORMATIONS OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

The specimen P.U. P.C. No.87/13 is excellently preserved upper third premolar of the upper right side and is found from Sardhok, district Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan. It belongs to the Pinjorian of the upper Siwalik formations. The P3 is very large, transversely elongated, triangular and with pronounced para- and mesostyles. The upper premolars of the species under study were extremely compressed and the parastylic fold was highly pronounced. Indratherium is distinguished from other genera due to the striking excess of breadth over length in the molars. This feature must have been shown by its premolars as well. In other larger genera of the giraffidae, this feature is not exhibited. The specimen under study is fairly wider transversely than longer. The specialized characters of P.U.P.C. No. 87/13 warrant the erection of a new species Indratherium compressus sp. nov.