Large Mammals from the Rupelian of Oman – Recent Finds

Abstract

Abstract The 2017 field survey of the Ashawq Formation, Dhofar, Oman, resulted in the collection of large mammal remains, most of which belong to Afrotheria, but with one artiodactyl lineage indicating the possibility of dispersal links with Eurasia. The new fossil remains increase our knowledge about the dental anatomy of the endemic lophodont proboscidean genus Omanitherium, revealing, in particular, that it possessed two pairs of lower incisors. For the first time, a palaeomastodont is recorded from the Arabian Peninsula. Additional remains of Arsinoitherium, a hyracoid and an anthracothere from the formation are described.