Eocene mammals from the Upper Subathu Group, Kashmir Himalaya, India

Abstract

New finds of brontotheres, raoellid artiodactyls and cetaceans are reported from the Middle Eocene Upper Subathu Group exposed in the Kalakot-Metka-Moghla inliers of Rajauri District, Jammu and Kashmir. The brontothere is closely allied to Eotitanops dayi from the Ganda Kas region of Pakistan and is much smaller than Pakotitanops. Raoellids are represented by four genera and five species including Metkatius kashmiriensis, gen. et sp. nov. and Kunmunella transversa, sp. nov. The Eocene artiodactyls of India do not resemble contemporary forms from contiguous regions and are probably endemic to the subcontinent. The systematics of previously described Indo-Pakistani genera have been revised and listed. Associated mammals include a jaw fragment of a protocetid whale, Ichthyolestes pinfoldi, which is also known from coeval beds in Pakistan.