The Late Miocene Rhinocerotidae from the Phra Phut sandpit in northeastern Thailand: implication for biostratigraphy and palaeobiogeography
摘要
The dispersal pattern of the Miocene rhinocerotids in Southeast Asia is unclear due to the lack of detailed descriptions of their fossil records, although abundant rhinocerotid fossils have been collected from the localities. Here, we describe the rhinocerotid fossils from the Phra Phut sandpit in Nakhon Ratchasima, Northeastern Thailand, and discuss the implications for the biostratigraphy and palaeobiogeography. Brachypotherium perimense, Aceratherium porpani, Alicornops complanatum and Acerorhinus sp. indet. were described from the sandpit, suggesting that the geological age of this sandpit corresponding to the Late Miocene. Similar rhinocerotid assemblages have been reported from the Late Miocene fauna of other sandpits in Chaloem Phra Kiat District in Nakhon Ratchasima. Compared with the Early to Middle Miocene rhinocerotid assemblages in Thailand, the Late Miocene ones are characterised by higher diversity, namely they contain a close relative of Chinese Acerorhinus spp., South Asian species (B. perimense, Al. complanatum) and an endemic taxon in Thailand (Acera. porpani). These records suggest the absence of significant barriers for rhinocerotids between Thailand and surrounding areas as in the cases of other terrestrial large mammals at that time.