New Data on the Camel (Camelus cf. knoblochi Nehring, 1901) from the Middle Pleistocene (Chibanian) of Western Transbaikalia (Russia).

Abstract

Morphological features of the humerus and forearm were described for a Middle Pleistocene (Chibanian) camel, previously unknown from Western Transbaikalia. While all previous finds in Central Asia included mostly hand and foot bones, fossils from the Selenga Middle Mountains (Ust-Kiran locality, Chikoy River valley) provide a rare opportunity to most fully outline the morphosculpture of the long tubular bones of the forelimb. Morphological features indicate that the bones belonged to the camel Camelus cf. knoblochi, and their sizes indicate that the camel was significantly larger than the Pliocene and modern forms. The camel inhabited various biotopes in the middle mountains with widespread foothill trains directed towards river valleys and intermountain depressions.