Revision of the boselaphin bovid Miotragocerus monacensis STROMER, 1928 (Mammalia, Bovidae) at the Middle to Late Miocene transition in Central Europe

摘要

During excavations in 2011-2014, new fossil material of the boselaphin Miotragocerus monacensis STROMER, 1928 (Mammalia, Bovidae) was found at the locality Hammerschmiede (Bavaria, Germany), which is dated to similar to 11.6 Ma (Middle to Late Miocene transition). For the first time, both dentition and postcranial material can be studied on this species. These new findings complete a collection of casts stored in the Bavarian State Collection for Palaeontology and Geology. In addition, the holotype of M. monacensis from Oberfohring (Bavaria, Germany) and further unpublished material from Southern Germany and Lower Austria are newly described in this study. Important new taxonomic characters are emphasized improving our knowledge on the species which was originally described based on one single horn core. M. monacensis can be assigned to the basal Boselaphini based on the plesiomorphic features in the dentition and characters of the postcranial material. Intraspecific variabilities, ontogenetic changes and allometries are identified improving the differenciation to other basal boselaphins like Miotragocerus pannoniae, Austroportax latifrons and Protagocerus chantrei. An improved statement regarding the biostratigraphic range of basal Boselaphines from Central Europe is provided.