Oldest hippopotamus record (Hippopotamus antiquus) from Anatolia (Datça Peninsula, Southwest Türkiye)

Abstract

Taxonomy and chronology of the Eurasian fossil hippopotamuses have been under debate, particularly regarding fossil records from Southwest and Central Europe. The genus Hippopotamus is recognized as a highly successful group that, during the Pleistocene, expanded its range from Western Europe through Anatolia, encompassing the entire Middle East and the eastern and northern shores of Africa, being designated as the “Hippo event”. However, despite this extensive expansion, detailed analysis of paleontological records from these regions reveals that Anatolia, which served as a suitable land bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa, contains a relatively limited number of Hippopotamus records. Therefore, the scarcity of records in Anatolia presents a paradox in paleobiogeographic studies.

This research is the first paleontological study in Türkiye to describe a Hippopotamus antiquus specimen from the lower Pleistocene, providing new insights into the taxonomy, systematics, and biogeography of Anatolian hippos. The specimen described here was discovered in the Reşadiye, Datça region (Southwest Anatolia) during the early 1980s. The specimen exhibits definitive diagnostic characteristics of H. antiquus, representing the first and earliest record of this species in Anatolia. The temporal and spatial correlations of the Datça specimens with contemporaneous taxa from Europe, Africa, and other parts of Anatolia (e.g., Burdur-Kocakır-2, Karain Cave, Konya-Dursunlu) highlight the geographical and chronological continuity of European hippos during the Quaternary. This study provides new data and insights into the evolution and dispersal patterns of these large semi-aquatic mammals.