First discovery of Neogene proboscidean fossils in southeast China

doi:10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.241110

Abstract

Abstract:

Stegolophodon is an age-informative genus of mammals that had a widespread distribution during the Neogene. This paper reports the discovery of Stegolophodon fossils from the Middle Miocene lower Fotan Formation at the Zhangpu locality, Fujian Province, China. This discovery represents the first evidence of Neogene proboscidean fossils in southeastern China. The newly found molar materials have low tooth crowns, very straight lophs/lophids, and an indistinct median sulcus. The mesoconelets and posterior cingulum are well-developed, while the second posterior pretrite central conule is significantly reduced. These specimens closely resemble Stegolophodon pseudolatidens in cheek tooth morphology, and can thus be attributed to the same species. This discovery fills a gap in the fossil record of large mammals in this region during the Neogene and provides valuable insights into the evolution of proboscideans and paleoenvironments.

Key words: southeastern China, Middle Miocene, proboscidean, Stegolophodon, morphology

摘要：

脊棱齿象是一类在新近纪时期分布广泛，具有年代指示性的哺乳动物。近来在福建省漳浦地区中中新世佛昙组下部发现了脊棱齿象新化石材料，这是首次在中国东南地区发现新近纪的长鼻目化石。臼齿新材料齿冠较低，齿脊非常直，中沟不明显，中附锥和后齿带比较发达，第二后中心小尖明显退化；在形态上与Stegolophodon pseudolatidens (伪宽齿脊棱齿象)相似，可归属于同一物种。该发现不仅填补了新近纪时期该地区大型哺乳动物化石记录的空白，还为理解长鼻类的演化及古环境研究提供了宝贵信息。

关键词: 中国东南, 中中新世, 长鼻目, 脊棱齿象, 形态学

CLC Number:

Q915.878

LI Chun-Xiao, TANG Jian-Rong, WANG Shi-Qi, WANG Lin-Chang, ZHENG Ying-Kai, DENG Ke, LIN Min, CHEN Run-Sheng, ZHOU Guo-Wu, CHEN Zhong-Yang. First discovery of Neogene proboscidean fossils in southeast China. Vertebrata Palasiatica, 2025, 63(1): 43-56.

李春晓, 汤建荣, 王世骐, 王林昌, 郑迎凯, 邓克, 林敏, 陈润生, 周国武, 陈中央. 2025, 63(1): 43-56, 中国东南地区首次发现新近纪象化石. 古脊椎动物学报.

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1 Geographic location of the Stegolophodon pseudolatidens fossils from Zhangpu, Fujian Province, China

Fig. 2 Tooth terminology and measurements (after Tassy, 2014; Wang et al., 2017; Li et al., 2019) A. occlusal terminology of a gomphotheriid tooth; B. length and width measurements of a left M2, occlusal view; C. height measurements on a molar, distal view Abbreviations FIGS, Fujian Institute of Geological Survey, China; IVPP, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; H, maximal height; Hpo, maximal height of the posttrite side; Hpr, maximal height of the pretrite side; I, index; L, length; l, left; M, upper molar; m, lower molar; r, right; W, maximal width; W1, W2, and W3, width at the first, second, and third loph(id)s.

Fig. 3 Stratigraphic column showing the five layers of the Futan Formation at the Zhangpu locality The new Stegolophodon remains were found in the fourth pebbly sandy mudstone layer

Fig. 4 Cheek teeth of Stegolophodon pseudolatidens from Zhangpu, Fujian Province, China

Table 1 Tooth measurements of new Stegolophodon pseudolatidens materials from southeastern China (mm)

Specimen	Locus	L	W	W1	W2	W3	W4	W5	Hpo	I=W/L
FJZP001	l M3	146.43+	103.06	—	78.26+	103.06	94.56	81.42	41.23	0.70
FJZP002	r m2	101.98+	75.26	70.03	75.26	—	—	—	38.81+	0.74
FJZP003	M/m3	—	97.91+	—	97.91+	71.80+	—	—	41.47+	—
IVPP V33469	l M2	95.45+	88.07	88.07	57.53+	—	—	—	35.15+	0.92
FJZP004	r tusk	70.15+	20.36

Fig. 5 Geographical distribution of Stegolophodon in Eurasia during the Miocene The red star and red dots indicate the localities of Stegolophodon

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