Bovinae, Gray, 1821

Hashemi, N, Ashouri, A, Aliabadian, M, M. Gharaie, M, Sánchez Marco, A & Louys, J, 2016, First report of Quaternary mammals from the Qalehjough area, Lut Desert, Eastern Iran, Palaeontologia Electronica 5 (4), pp. 1-12 : 5-7

Bovinae gen. et sp. indet. cf. Bos Linnaeus, 1758

Figure 4.15 -16

Material. 1 left mandible (QHJ-1), 1 horn core (QHJ-26), 7 lumbar vertebrae (QHJ-4, 6–11), 1 condyle part of mandible (QHJ-34), and 6 upper molars and 1 premolar (QHJ-2, 3, 16, 19–21, 35).

Description. These fossils are referred to Bos based on their size and overall morphology. The horn core is hollow, broken, and only half of it was recovered. It displays a slight twist in the clockwise direction, with longitudinal grooves. It is concave in the central part, and the cross-section is elliptical. It has a short stem and circular base, and the curvature and torsion of the bone suggests that there might be a convergence between the horns in life ( Figure 4.15 -16).

Remark. The remains of Bos have been reported from several palaeontological/archaeological sites in Iran: Yafteh (35 ka), Warwazi caves, Gar Arjaneh, and Pa Sangar rockshelters ( Otte et al., 2007).

Bovinae gen. et sp. indet. cf. Gazella De Blainville, 1816

Figure 4.17 -18, Table 1

Material. 1 left M 2 (QHJ-23); 1 tooth (QHJ-43).

Description. The referred M 2 is poorly preserved. The enamel (mostly worn and broken) on the lingual side is thick. The posterior end of the protocone is moderately expanded, and the central cavities are wide and deep. The lingual wall of the tooth displays two distinct open valleys. A very small and transverse enamel layer connects the posterior end of the protocone with the hypocone. The metacone and the paracone are less broad than the hypocone and the protocone. The paracone is higher than the other cusps. The hypocone appears to be less crescentic because of the wear ( Figure 4.17 -18). These occlusal structures of the tooth strongly resemble those of Gazella . Other material includes an incomplete isolated tooth with strong wear on the occlusal surface and covering of hard cement. Based on overall morphology, it can also be referred to as Gazella sp.

Remarks. The remains of Gazella have been found from several palaeontological/archaeological sites in Iran: Buz Mordeh, Mohammad jafar, Ali Koush sites (4.9–6 ka), Yafteh cave (35 ka), and Pa Sangar rockshelter. Today, the Goitered gazelle, G. subgutturosa ( Güldenstädt, 1780) , is the most widespread Gazella species in Iran; it occurs in all over the country except for the north and some southern parts ( Hemami, 1994; Karami et al., 2002). By contrast, G. dorcas ( Linnaeus, 1758) is confined to eastern and south-eastern Iran.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Photographs of selected vertebrate fossils from the Qalehjough fossil site. 1-2, a right P4 of Stephanorhinus cf. kirchbergensis (QHJ-45) in lateral (1) and occlusal (2) views. 3-5, three incisors of Equus (QHJ-12–14) in lateral views. 6-7, a right M3 of Equus (QHJ-22) in lateral (6) and occlusal (7) views. 8-9, a left M3 of Equus (QHJ-42) in lateral (8) and occlusal (9) views. 10, a first phalange of Sus (QHJ-37) in lateral view. 11, a left mandible of Ovis aries with P4 (QHJ-44) in lateral view. 12-13, a left M2 of O. aries (QHJ-5) in lateral (12) and occlusal (13) views. 14, a left mandible of Bos (QHJ-1) in lateral view. 15-16, a horn core (mesiodistal part) of Bos (QHJ-26) in internal (15) and external (16) views. 17-18, a left M2 of Gazella (QHJ-23) in lateral (17) and occlusal (18) views. Scale bars equal 1 mm.