Age of Xingjiawan mammalian assemblage revealed by new Cervidae and Bovidae material from Yongdeng, Gansu Province, China

New cervid and bovid material from Yongdeng, Gansu Province, China, is described here. It should be attributed to Cervavitus cf. C. shanxius and 'Gazella' paotehensis. At least 12 mammal species occur at the Xingjiawan locality, and the coexistence of Stegodon sp., Chilotherium habereri, Chleuastochoerus stehlini, Cervavitus cf. C. shanxius, and 'Gazella' paotehensis indicates a typical Baodean fauna. Age of Xingjiawan mammalian assemblage is also supported by the reinterpretation of the palaeomagnetic correlation, about 6.54 to 6.62 Ma.

Automated summary

This study describes new cervid and bovid materials from Yongdeng, Gansu Province, China, which are identified as Cervavitus cf. C. shanxius and 'Gazella' paotehensis. The coexistence of at least 12 mammal species, including Stegodon sp., Chilotherium habereri, Chleuastochoerus stehlini, Cervavitus cf. C. shanxius, and 'Gazella' paotehensis, indicates a typical Baodean fauna at the Xingjiawan locality. The age of the Xingjiawan mammalian assemblage is also supported by the reinterpretation of paleomagnetic correlation, dating back to approximately 6.54 to 6.62 million years.