Equidae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from the late Miocene of Akkașdağı, Turkey

Akkas.dag˘ı is a new vertebrate locality from Central Anatolia, Turkey, dated to middle Turolian (MN 12). Rich bone pockets are included in the upper horizon of a tuff layer dated to 7.1 Ma. Hipparion remains are particularly abundant. On the basis of skeletons, four different species were recognized in Akkas.dag˘ı hipparions sample: 1) H. dietrichi, medium- to large-sized with long and slender limb bones; 2) H. moldavicum, small- to medium-sized with long and slender limb bones; 3) H. brachypus, large-sized with short and robust limb bones; and 4) H. cf. longipes, very large-sized form with very long and slender limb bones. The phylogenetic relationship of the Akkas.dag˘ı hipparions with other Eurasian late Miocene hipparions is discussed, and we also analyse biostratigraphic and palaeobiogeographic distribution of the determined species in correlation with the available biochronologic, radiometric and magnetostratigraphic data.