A preliminary report on the Eocene mammals of the Pondaung fauna, Myanmar

Abstract

A diverse array of mammalian species is now known from the Pondaung Formation, located in central Myanmar. The new mammals for the Pondaung fauna are: Anthropoidea gen. et sp. nov. (Primates); Hyaenodontidae indet. A, and indet. B (Creodonta); ?Phiomyidae indet. C (Rodentia); Ungulata indet. D; ?Agriochoeridae indet. E (Artiodactyla); cf. Ilianodon (Rhinocerotoidea; Perissodactyla); Amynodontidae indet. F (Perissodactyla). The stratigraphical and microfossil evidences suggest that the Pondaung Formation is referable to the period from the middle to late Eocene. Concerning the dating of the Pondaung mammal fauna, middle middle to late Eocene (most probably late middle Eocene) is suggested based on comparisons of it with other Eocene mammal fauna; however, further information is necessary to identify the date more precisely.