Original paper
Postcranials of the giant rhino Paraceratherium huangheense (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from the Early Oligocene Lanzhou Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau
Li, Zhaoyu; Zhang, Yunxiang; Li, Yongxiang; Xie, Kun; Mörs, Thomas
Palaeontographica Abteilung A Band 331 Lieferung 1-3 (2025), p. 49 - 95
73 references
published: Jul 29, 2025
published online: Jul 7, 2025
manuscript accepted: Jun 10, 2025
manuscript received: Jan 21, 2025
DOI: 10.1127/pala/0165
Abstract
The fossiliferous sediments of the Lower Xianshuihe Formation at Lanzhou are among the few important Early Oligocene mammal-bearing localities in China. Previous studies have revealed a diversified local fauna, including the presence of the paraceratheriid Paraceratherium huangheense that is restricted to the late Early Oligocene Lanzhou Basin. However, fossils of P. huangheense were poorly documented, with only mandibular and dental materials available. The newly discovered postcranial skeletal elements provide supplementary morphological features of P. huangheense and allow for a detailed comparison with other large-sized paraceratheres. Nevertheless, additional cranial and postcranial fossils are needed for identifiable traits at the species level. The improvement of climatic and ecological conditions — characterized by a temperate semi-arid climate and expansion of open woodlands — during the Early Oligocene in Lanzhou likely played a significant role in the distribution of giant rhinos.
Keywords
Rhinocerotoidea • postcranial morphology • Paleogene • East Asia