Paleodietary inferences of the Pleistocene (Pinjor Formation) ungulates from district Gujrat using mesowear analysis

Abstract

Paleodietary analysis was performed by using mesowear I method on nine species of Pleistocene ungulates for the first time that were recovered from two Pinjor Formation localities of the Siwalik Group, Makwal and Panjan Sher Shahana, Kharian, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan. Only well preserved upper and lower molars were tested by scoring the occlusal relief and cusp shape. The results indicate that the most of the taxa, including Megalotragus sp., Alcelaphus sp., Damalops palaeindicus, Damalops sp., and Equus sp., are characterized by low occlusal relief and rounded to blunt cusp shape, associated with grazing habit. Whereas, Damalacra sp. and cf. Proleptobos birmanicus displays high occlusal relief and sharp cusps, consistent with a browsing category. Two taxa, Aepyceros sp. and Gazella sp., exhibit mixed-feeding adaptation. These findings reveal that the ungulate community of these two Siwalik localities was dominated by grazers but the browsers and mixed-feeders were also existed, indicating the presence of Savannah type grasslands and transitional habitats along with expanding C4 grasslands. The dietary spectrum highlights the diverse nature of Siwalik environments during Pleistocene epoch.