Eocene and Oligocene sirenians (Mammalia) from Kachchh, India

Abstract

Discoveries of three species of Eocene sirenians in District Kachchh, State of Gujarat, India, are reported. A species of the protosirenid Protosiren is represented by cranial and postcranial material, and the halitheriine dugongid Eosiren is represented by a poorly preserved mandible. Neither of these can be identified at the specific level. A new species of haltheriine dugongids is described: Eotheroides babiae, n. sp. The species is based on a lower jaw with teeth. Another new fossil sirenian is reported from the Oligocene (Chattian) Maniyara Fort Formation. The new species, Bharatisiren indica, n. sp., is based on a well-preserved skull, mandibles, and several postcranial specimens. Bharatisiren is a basal dugongine dugongid, close to previously described Bharatisiren kachchhensis and possibly near the origin of the modern genus Dugong.