The Maragheh bovids (Mammalia, Artiodactyla): systematic revision and biostratigraphic-zoogeographic interpretation

A comprehensive systematic review of the Bovidae from the fossiliferous sites of Maragheh, Iran, based mainly on the collections stored in the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris and the Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology in Howard University, Washington, DC, is undertaken here. We identify 18 species, including the newly nominated genus Demecquenemia n. gen. We further recognize two species of Gazella Blainville, 1816, four species of Prostrepsiceros Major, 1891, including Pr. cf. vinayaki (Pilgrim, 1939) that is documented for the first time in Maragheh, as well as the presence of Palaeoryx Gaudry, 1861 and the possible presence of Palaeoreas Gaudry, 1861. Our revision includes new material and improved systematic understanding of both Urmiatherium polaki Rodler, 1889 and of the boselaphines from Maragheh. The biostratigraphic distribution of Maragheh Bovidae is discussed in the light of the new data and a thorough comparison of the Maragheh bovid assemblage with those of Pikermi, Samos and other sites in the region is conducted. We demonstrate that Maragheh was a biogeographic crossroads of several Late Miocene zoogeographic provinces of Eurasia.