Meeting Abstract

P2-38   -   Carnivorans across hemispheres: Carnivoran biodiversity in southwestern Asia and North America during the Miocene–Pliocene Jasinski, SE*; Abbas, SG; Khan, MA; Harrisburg University; University of Sialkot, University of the Punjab; University of the Punjab sejasinski@gmail.com

Recent field work and new specimens, combined with previous data, provides important new information about the terrestrial carnivores from the Siwalik Group in southwestern Asia during the Miocene–Pliocene epochs, including new insights into community dynamics (e.g., immigration, emigration, extinction) and evolution of this group. Most mammalian carnivore groups in the region today were present by the middle Miocene, with hyaenodontid creodonts, along with amphicyonids and percrocutids, mostly gone by the end of the Miocene, although amphicyonids may have held on in relict populations into the Pliocene. The Middle Siwaliks were a key point of inversion in the biodiversity of several abundant carnivoran groups in the region, including felids, mustelids, hyaenids, and viverrids. Hyaenid biodiversity increases throughout time, potentially filling newly open niches, including those of osteophagous carnivores. Conversely, felids and mustelids maintained high biodiversity, making up 60% of the carnivoran fauna by the Upper Siwaliks, similar to modern carnivoran biodiversity in the region. We also compiled data on North American Miocene–Pliocene carnivorans. Distinct from the Siwaliks, canids made up 40% of carnivoran biodiversity in the early Miocene, dropping in diversity through time. Musteloids account for around 25%, making these two groups account for the majority of that paleobiodiversity. Like southwestern Asia, felid and musteloid diversity increase through time, also similar to the modern North American carnivoran fauna. In contrast, hyaenids show up late in North America, potentially due to expansion barriers, and do not survive there for long, while they remain a key component throughout the Siwaliks. Including body size, diet, and abundances will allow further understanding of these carnivoran communities through time.