A Revise of Classification of Stegodon of Taiwan and itsiogeographical Implication
Date Issued
2009
Date
2009
Author(s)
Wu, Yun-Hsin
Abstract
“Chochen Fauna” is one of the most famous mammal fossil faunas in Taiwan during Pleistocene. Stegodon fossils from “Chochen Fauna” have been discovered from Taichung and Tainan areas. The Stegodon fossils in Taichung distribute from Cholan Formation to Toukeshan Formation while the fossils from Tainan are all from Chiting Formation. Since the top of Cholan Formation mainly is positioned at about the bottom of the Jaramillo Event, whereas the Chiting Formation mainly belongs to Brunhes Epoch, apparently the Stegodon inhabited in the central Taiwan and then expanded to southern area. Previous studies have identified Stegodon aurorae, S. orientalis, and S. insignis from Taiwan. In addition to these species, a new taxon, S. elephantoides taiwanicus, has been identified in this study. This was a large and primitive Stegodon intermediate between S. zdanskyi and S. elephantoides. It was found from the Kuoling Member of the Chiting Formation of the middle Pleistocene in age. This newly recognized taxon is considered as a descendant emigrant dispersed from China and became a relic member of the primitive S. elephantoides survived in Taiwan refugia. The specimens of S. insignis are missing and can not be reexamined. Two of the specimens previously identified as S. aurorae are now revised to be S. orientalis by morphological comparisons. Although another specimen identified as S. aurorae has characters similar to S. aurorae in Japan, it is actually too fragmental to assure such a taxonomic designation. Hence, there is no solid evidence for the existence of S. aurorae in Taiwan. In summary, Two Stegodon species can be identified from Taiwan materials. They are S. elephantoides taiwanicus and S. orientalis. S. elephantoides and S. orientalis mainly distributed in southern China and the latter species is known as a member of the Pleistocene Ailuropoda-Stegodon fauna. Together with previously discovered Rhinoceros sinensis hayasaka, Stegodon and other associated large mammals in Taiwan are likely to come from southern China during early to middle Pleistocene.
Subjects
Chochen Fauna
Pleistocene
Stegodon elephantoides
Stegodon aurorae
Stegodon orientalis
Taiwan
Type
thesis
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