The Hipparionini horses (Equidae, Perissodactyla, Mammalia) from the Late Pliocene of Jradzor (Armenia)

Becker, Damien; Mouhat Bourquard, Manhon; Maridet, Olivier; Vasilyan, Davit

doi:10.3897/sjp.145.189856

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Journal article

The Hipparionini horses (Equidae, Perissodactyla, Mammalia) from the Late Pliocene of Jradzor (Armenia)

DOKPE

Becker, Damien ORCID University of Fribourg
Mouhat Bourquard, Manhon University of Tübingen, Germany
Maridet, Olivier ORCID JURASSICA Museum, Porrentruy, Switzerland
Vasilyan, Davit ORCID University of Fribourg

2026

Published in:

Swiss Journal of Palaeontology. - Pensoft Publishers. - 2026, vol. 145, p. 625-653

English Three fossiliferous horizons of the Late Pliocene (MN15–early MN16) locality of Jradzor in Armenia have yielded numerous well-preserved dental and postcranial remains of Hipparionini. Based on anatomical comparisons and allometric analyses, all described specimens are attributed to “Hipparion” longipes. The systematics of this species remains unclear. Following detailed morphological observations and morphometric analyses of Pliocene Hipparionini, this study suggests a re-assignment of both “Hipparion” longipes and “H.” fissurae to the genus Cremohipparion (comb. nov.). Furthermore, the large, slender-limbed Cremohipparion sp. from Ruscinian localities on the Iberian Peninsula (La Gloria 4, La Calera, Orrios-1 and Villalba Alta Rio 1) is, as suggested in recent literature, morphologically distinct from Cremohipparion fissurae from its type locality in Layna and is likely endemic to Spain during MN14. The tentative revision of “H.” cf. longipes from Akkaşdağı (MN13, Turkey) into Cr. cf. fissurae, in addition to the confirmed record of Cr. fissurae in Layna (MN15, Spain), leads a reconsideration of both the palaeobiogeographic distribution and biostratigraphic range of this species.

Faculty

Faculté des sciences et de médecine

Department

Département de Géosciences

Language