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| Pinjor Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Pleistocene ~Pleistocene | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Underlies | Tatrot Formation |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 30°42′N 76°48′E / 30.7°N 76.8°E |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 29°12′N 77°18′E / 29.2°N 77.3°E |
| Region | Haryana, Punjab, India, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Pakistan, Chandigarh |
| Country |  India |
  Pinjor Formation (India) | |
The Pinjor Formation is a Cenozoic geologic formation in India. The fossils of mammals are abundant from the formation, with the addition of reptiles, fishes and invertebrates.[1]
Paleobiota
[edit]Color key
|
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; |
Reptiles
[edit]Pseudosuchians
[edit]It is possible that Rhamphosuchus crassidens and probably Hypselornis sivalensis may have been present in Pinjor Formation.[2]
| Pseudosuchians from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Gavialis[3] | G. gangeticus | WIF/A 459-461, partial craniums. | Ambala | A gavialid. | |
| G. browni | WIF/A 458, maxillary fragment. | ||||
| Crocodylus[3] | C. palaeindicus | A/683, cranial rostrum. | Naipli | A crocodylid. | |
| C. biporcatus | A/684, a complete skull. | ||||
Turtle
[edit]| Turtles from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Megalochelys[3] | M. atlas | Numerous specimens, including ones referred to M. sivalensis. | Known from Plio-Pleistocene deposits of entire Punjab. | A large sized testudinid. | |
| cf. Geoclemys[3] | cf. G. hamiltonii | WIF/A 454, partially preserved carapace and antero-posteriorly broken plastron. | Ambala | A geoemydid. | |
| Omegachelys[3] | O. sahnii | WIF/A 451, terminally broken large carapace. | Ambala | A geoemydid. | |
Squamates
[edit]| Squamates from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Varanus | V. sivalensis | Distal end of humerus, dorsal vertebrae | "Pinjor Zone" | A varanid. | |
Birds
[edit]It is possible that Leptoptilos falconeri and Struthio asiaticus might have been present in Pinjor Formation.[4][5]
| Birds from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Aves[6] | indet. | Potwar Plateau | Indeterminate aves. | ||
| Struthio | S. camelus | eggshells fragments | Chandigarh region | A struthionid. | |
Mammals
[edit]Eulipotyphla
[edit]| Eulipotyphlas from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Chandisorex[7] | C. punchkulaensis | Chandigarh region | A soricid. | ||
Rodent
[edit]| Rodents from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Hystrix[7] | H. leucurus | Chandigarh region | A hystricid. | ||
| Rattus[7] | R. sp. | Chandigarh region | A murid. | ||
| Mus[7] | M. linnaeusi | Chandigarh region | A murid. | ||
| cf. M. flynni | Chandigarh region | A murid. | |||
| Hadromys[7] | H. loujacobsi | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
| H. sp. | Chandigarh region | A murid | |||
| Nesokia[7] | N. punchkulaensis | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
| Cremnomys[7] | C. blanfordi | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
| Dilatomys[7] | D. sp. | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
| Golunda[7] | G. sp. | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
| Anepsirhizomys[7] | A. pinjoricus | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
| Tatera[7] | T. pinjoricus | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
| Bandicota[7] | B. sp | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
Lagomorph
[edit]| Lagomorphs from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Pliosiwalagus[7][8] | P. sivalensis | Chandigarh region | A leporid | ||
Primates
[edit]| Primates from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Theropithecus[7] | T. oswaldi[9] | Chandigarh region | A cercopithecid. | ||
| Procynocephalus[7] | P. subhimalayanus | Chandigarh region | A cercopithecid. | ||
| Hominini[10] | indeterminate | Chandigarh region | A hominid. | ||
Felids
[edit]| Felids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Megantereon[7][11] | M. falconeri | Chandigarh region, Roorkee region | A machairodontine felid. | ||
| Homotherium[11] | H. sp. | "Pinjor Faunal Zone" | A machairodontine felid. | ||
| Dinofelis[7][12] | D. cristata | Chandigarh region | A machairodontine felid, includes cf. Panthera cristata. | ||
| Sivapanthera[7] | S. potens | Chandigarh region | A feline felid. | ||
| Panthera | P. uncia[6] | Potwar Plateau | A pantherine felid. | ||
| Felis[13] | F. subhimalayana | Upper Siwaliks | A feline felid. | ||
Canids
[edit]| Canids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Canis | C. pinjorensis[7] | Chandigarh region | A canine canid. | ||
| C. etruscus[6][14] | Potwar Plateau and Siwaliks of Dádúpúr.[6][15] | A canine canid, includes Canis cautleyi. | |||
| Prototocyon[7] | P. curvipalatus | Chandigarh region | A canine canid. Also known from the older Tatrot Formation. | ||
Ursids
[edit]| Ursid from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Agriotherium[13] | A. sivalensis | Kasamuri Rao, Saharanpur of North-Western Provinces and Siwalik Ganges valley neighbourhood.[15][16] | A ailuropodine ursid. |  | |
| Melursus[13] | M. theobaldi | Kangra district[15] | A ursine ursid. | ||
Viverrids
[edit]| Viverrids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Vishnuictis[13] | V. durandi | Upper Siwalik | A viverrine viverrid. | ||
| V. sp.[17] | Chandigarh region | A viverrine viverrid. | |||
| Viverra[13] | V. bakeri | Upper Siwalik | A viverrine viverrid. | ||
Mustelids
[edit]| Mustelids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Enhydriodon[13] | E. sivalensis | Chandigarh region, Potwar Plateau | A lutrine mustelid. | ||
| Sinictis[13] | S. lydekkeri | Upper Siwaliks | A mustelid | ||
| Amblonyx[13] | A. indicus | Upper Siwaliks | A lutrine mustelid. | ||
| A. sp. | Upper Siwaliks | A lutrine mustelid. | |||
| Mellivora | M. sivalensis[7] | Chandigarh region | A mellivorine mustelid. | ||
| Lutra[13] | L. palaeindica | Upper Siwaliks | A lutrine mustelid. | ||
Hyaenids
[edit]| Hyaenids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Pachycrocuta[7][6] | P. brevirostris | Chandigarh region, Potwar Plateau | A hyaenid. | ||
| Crocuta | C. sivalensis[13] | Upper Siwaliks | A hyaenid. | ||
| Pliocrocuta[13] | P. perrieri | Upper Siwaliks | A hyaenid. | ||
| Hyaenictis[7] | H. bosei | Chandigarh region | A hyaenid. | ||
Proboscideans
[edit]| Proboscideans from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Stegodon[7] | S. pinjorensis | Chandigarh region | A stegodontid proboscidean. | ||
| S. insignis | Chandigarh region | A stegodontid proboscidean. | |||
| S. sp. | Chandigarh region | A stegodontid proboscidean. | |||
| S. bombifrons | Potwar Plateau | A stegodontid proboscidean, also known from the older Tatrot Formation. | |||
| Elephas[7] | E. hysudricus | Chandigarh region | An elephantid proboscidean. | ||
| E. planifrons | Chandigarh region | An elephantid proboscidean, also known from the older Tatrot Formation. | |||
| E. platycephalus | Chandigarh region | An elephantid proboscidean. | |||
| Anancus[7] | A. sivalensis | Chandigarh region | A gomphothere proboscidean, also known from the older Tatrot Formation. | ||
| Stegolophodon[7] | S. stegodontoides | Chandigarh region | A stegodontid proboscidean, also known from the older Tatrot Formation. | ||
Rhinocerotids
[edit]| Rhinocerotids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Rhinoceros[7] | R. sivalensis | Chandigarh region | A rhinocerotine rhinocerotid. | ||
| R. platyrhinus | Chandigarh region | A large rhinocerotine rhinocerotid, includes Punjabitherium. | |||
| R. palaeindicus | Chandigarh region | A rhinocerotine rhinocerotid. | |||
| Subchilotherium[7] | S. intermedium | Chandigarh region | A aceratheriine rhinocerotid. Also known from the older Tatrot Formation. | ||
References
[edit]- ↑ V. Kumaravel, S. J. Sangode; Rohtash Kumar, N. Siva Siddaiah (2005). "Magnetic polarity stratigraphy of Plio–Pleistocene Pinjor Formation (type locality), Siwalik Group, NW Himalaya, India". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad184.
- ↑ Martin, J. E. (2019). "The taxonomic content of the genus Gavialis from the Siwalik Hills of India and Pakistan" (PDF). Papers in Palaeontology. 5 (3): 483–497. Bibcode:2019PPal....5..483M. doi:10.1002/spp2.1247. S2CID 134966832.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Srivastava, R., and H. H. Schleich. (2018). "Fossil Turtles and Crocodiles from the Caenozoic of S-Asia". ARCO-Nepal, Muhich, 1-324
- ↑ Buffetaut, E. (2022). Feduccia, A. (ed.). "The First-Named Fossil Ostrich: A Revision of Struthio asiaticus, from the Siwaliks of India". Diversity. 14 (10): 860. doi:10.3390/d14100860.
- ↑ Louchart, A., Vignaud, P., Likius, A., Brunet, M., & White, T. D. (2005). A large extinct marabou stork in African Pliocene hominid sites, and a review of the fossil species of Leptoptilos. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 50(3).
- 1 2 3 4 5 Dennell, R. W.; Coard, R.; Turner, A. (2008). "Predators and scavengers in Early Pleistocene southern Asia". Quaternary International. 192:78-88.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 "Pinjor Formation". indplex.geolex.org. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ Patnaik, R. (2002). "Pliocene Leporidae (Lagomorpha, Mammalia) from the Upper Siwaliks of India: Implications for phylogenetic relationships". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22(2):443–452
- ↑ Getahun, Dagmawit Abebe; Delson, Eric; Seyoum, Chalachew Mesfin (July 2023). "A review of Theropithecus oswaldi with the proposal of a new subspecies". Journal of Human Evolution. 180 103373. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2023.103373. hdl:10150/672281. Retrieved 5 March 2026 – via Elsevier Science Direct.
- ↑ Kaur, A. P.; Saarinen, J.; Patnaik, R.; Chauhan, P. R.; Dennell, R. (2026). "Contextualizing Early to Middle Pleistocene hominin ecology in the Indian Subcontinent". Journal of Quaternary Science. doi:10.1002/jqs.70088.
- 1 2 Stimpson, Christopher M. (May 2024). "Siwalik sabrecats: review and revised diagnosis of Megantereon fossils from the foothills of the Himalaya". Royal Society Open Science. 11 (5) 231788. Bibcode:2024RSOS...1131788S. doi:10.1098/rsos.231788. ISSN 2054-5703. PMC 11076117. PMID 38720790.
- ↑ Werdelin, Lars & Lewis, Margaret E. (2001), "A revision of the genus Dinofelis (Mammalia, Felidae)", Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 132 (2): 147–258, doi:10.1006/zjls.2000.0260
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Jasinski, Steven E.; Abbas, Sayyed Ghyour; Mahmood, Khalid; Babar, Muhammad Adeeb; Khan, Muhammad Akbar (2023-11-02). "New Carnivoran (Mammalia: Carnivora) specimens from the Siwaliks of Pakistan and India and their faunal and evolutionary implications". Historical Biology. 35 (11): 2217–2252.
- ↑ Garrido, Guiomar; Arribas, Alfonso (2008). "Canis accitanus nov. sp., a new small dog (Canidae, Carnivora, Mammalia) from the Fonelas P-1 Plio-Pleistocene site (Guadix basin, Granada, Spain)". Geobios. 41 (8): 753. Bibcode:2008Geobi..41..751G. doi:10.1016/j.geobios.2008.05.002.
- 1 2 3 Lydekker, R. (1884). "Siwalik and Narbada Carnivora". Paleontologia Indica, 10:178-135.
- ↑ Lydekker, R. (1888). "Notes on Indian fossil Vertebrata; the ulna of Hyaenarctos". Records of Geological Survey of India, 21:145-146.
- ↑ Gaur, R.; Chopra, S. (22 March 1984). "Taphonomy, fauna, environment and ecology of Upper Siwaliks (Plio-Pleistocene) near Chandigarh, India". Nature. 308: 353–355. doi:10.1038/308353a0.