Pinjor Formation
| Pinjor Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Pleistocene ~ | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Underlies | Boulder Conglomerate Formation |
| Overlies | Tatrot Formation |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 30°42′N 76°48′E / 30.7°N 76.8°E |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 29°12′N 77°18′E / 29.2°N 77.3°E |
| Region | Haryana, Punjab, India, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Pakistan, Chandigarh |
| Country |  India |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Pinjor town, India |
  Pinjor Formation (India) | |
The Pinjor Formation is a Cenozoic geologic formation in India. The fossils of mammals are abundant from the formation, with the addition of reptiles, fishes and invertebrates.
Paleobiota
Color key
|
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text
crossed out taxa are discredited.
Reptiles
Pseudosuchians
It is possible that Rhamphosuchus crassidens and probably Hypselornis sivalensis may have been present in Pinjor Formation.
| Pseudosuchians from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Gavialis | G. gangeticus | WIF/A 459-461, partial craniums. | Ambala | A gavialid. | |
| G. browni | WIF/A 458, maxillary fragment. | ||||
| Crocodylus | C. palaeindicus | A/683, cranial rostrum. | Naipli | A crocodylid. | |
| C. biporcatus | A/684, a complete skull. | ||||
Turtle
| Turtles from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Megalochelys | M. atlas | Numerous specimens, including ones referred to M. sivalensis. | Known from Plio-Pleistocene deposits of entire Punjab. | A large sized testudinid. | |
| cf. Geoclemys | cf. G. hamiltonii | WIF/A 454, partially preserved carapace and antero-posteriorly broken plastron. | Ambala | A geoemydid. | |
| Omegachelys | O. sahnii | WIF/A 451, terminally broken large carapace. | Ambala | A geoemydid. | |
Squamates
| Squamates from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Varanus | V. sivalensis | Distal end of humerus, dorsal vertebrae | "Pinjor Zone" | A varanid. | |
Birds
It is possible that Leptoptilos falconeri and Struthio asiaticus might have been present in Pinjor Formation.
| Birds from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Aves | indet. | Potwar Plateau | Indeterminate aves. | ||
| Struthio | S. camelus | eggshells fragments | Chandigarh region | A struthionid. | |
Mammals
Eulipotyphla
| Eulipotyphlas from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Chandisorex | C. punchkulaensis | Chandigarh region | A soricid. | ||
Rodent
| Rodents from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Hystrix | H. leucurus | Chandigarh region | A hystricid. | ||
| Rattus | R. sp. | Chandigarh region | A murid. | ||
| Mus | M. linnaeusi | Chandigarh region | A murid. | ||
| cf. M. flynni | Chandigarh region | A murid. | |||
| Hadromys | H. loujacobsi | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
| H. sp. | Chandigarh region | A murid | |||
| Nesokia | N. punchkulaensis | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
| Cremnomys | C. blanfordi | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
| Dilatomys | D. sp. | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
| Golunda | G. sp. | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
| Anepsirhizomys | A. pinjoricus | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
| Tatera | T. pinjoricus | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
| Bandicota | B. sp | Chandigarh region | A murid | ||
Lagomorph
| Lagomorphs from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Pliosiwalagus | P. sivalensis | Chandigarh region | A leporid | ||
Primates
It is possible that Hominins (most likely Archaic humans) were present in Pinjor Formation.
| Primates from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Theropithecus | T. oswaldi | Chandigarh region | A cercopithecid. | ||
| Procynocephalus | P. subhimalayanus | Chandigarh region | A cercopithecid. | ||
Felids
| Felids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Megantereon | M. falconeri | Chandigarh region, Roorkee region | A machairodontine felid. | ||
| Homotherium | H. sp. | "Pinjor Faunal Zone" | A machairodontine felid. | ||
| Dinofelis | D. cristata | Chandigarh region | A machairodontine felid, includes cf. Panthera cristata. | ||
| Sivapanthera | S. potens | Chandigarh region | A feline felid. | ||
| Panthera | P. uncia | Potwar Plateau | A pantherine felid. | ||
| P. gombaszogensis | Haro River | ||||
| Felis | F. subhimalayana | Upper Siwaliks | A feline felid. | ||
Canids
| Canids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Canis | C. pinjorensis | Chandigarh region | A canine canid. | ||
| C. etruscus | Potwar Plateau and Siwaliks of Dádúpúr. | A canine canid, includes Canis cautleyi. | |||
| Prototocyon | P. curvipalatus | Chandigarh region | A canine canid. Also known from the older Tatrot Formation. | ||
Ursids
| Ursid from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Agriotherium | A. sivalensis | Kasamuri Rao, Saharanpur of North-Western Provinces and Siwalik Ganges valley neighbourhood. | A ailuropodine ursid. |  | |
| Melursus | M. theobaldi | Kangra district | A ursine ursid. | ||
Viverrids
| Viverrids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Vishnuictis | V. durandi | Upper Siwalik | A viverrine viverrid. | ||
| V. sp. | Chandigarh region | A viverrine viverrid. | |||
| Viverra | V. bakeri | Upper Siwalik | A viverrine viverrid. | ||
Mustelids
| Mustelids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Enhydriodon | E. sivalensis | Chandigarh region, Potwar Plateau | A lutrine mustelid. | ||
| Sinictis | S. lydekkeri | Upper Siwaliks | A mustelid | ||
| Amblonyx | A. indicus | Upper Siwaliks | A lutrine mustelid. | ||
| A. sp. | Upper Siwaliks | A lutrine mustelid. | |||
| Mellivora | M. sivalensis | Chandigarh region | A mellivorine mustelid. | ||
| Lutra | L. palaeindica | Upper Siwaliks | A lutrine mustelid. | ||
Hyaenids
| Hyaenids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Pachycrocuta | P. brevirostris | Chandigarh region, Potwar Plateau | A hyaenid. | ||
| Crocuta | C. sivalensis | Upper Siwaliks | A hyaenid. | ||
| Pliocrocuta | P. perrieri | Upper Siwaliks | A hyaenid. | ||
| Hyaenictis | H. bosei | Chandigarh region | A hyaenid. | ||
Proboscideans
| Proboscideans from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Stegodon | S. pinjorensis | Chandigarh region | A stegodontid proboscidean. | ||
| S. insignis | Chandigarh region | A stegodontid proboscidean. | |||
| S. sp. | Chandigarh region | A stegodontid proboscidean. | |||
| S. bombifrons | Potwar Plateau | A stegodontid proboscidean, also known from the older Tatrot Formation. | |||
| Elephas | E. hysudricus | Chandigarh region | An elephantid proboscidean. | ||
| E. planifrons | Chandigarh region | An elephantid proboscidean, also known from the older Tatrot Formation. | |||
| E. platycephalus | Chandigarh region | An elephantid proboscidean. | |||
| Anancus | A. sivalensis | Chandigarh region | A gomphothere proboscidean, also known from the older Tatrot Formation. | ||
| Stegolophodon | S. stegodontoides | Chandigarh region | A stegodontid proboscidean, also known from the older Tatrot Formation. | ||
Rhinocerotids
| Rhinocerotids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Rhinoceros | R. sivalensis | Chandigarh region | A rhinocerotine rhinocerotid. | ||
| R. platyrhinus | Chandigarh region | A large rhinocerotine rhinocerotid, includes Punjabitherium. | |||
| R. palaeindicus | Chandigarh region | A rhinocerotine rhinocerotid. | |||
| Subchilotherium | S. intermedium | Chandigarh region | A aceratheriine rhinocerotid. Also known from the older Tatrot Formation. | ||
Bovids
| Bovids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Bison | B. sivalensis | A bovine bovid. | |||
| Damalops | D. palaeindicus | An alcelaphine bovid. | |||
| D. sp. | |||||
| Oryx | O. sivalensis | A hippotragine bovid. | |||
| Hemibos | H. acuticornis | A bovine bovid. | |||
| H. triquetricornis | |||||
| H. antilopinus | |||||
| Antilope | A. subtorta | An antilopine bovid. | |||
| Bubalus | B. platycerops | A bovine bovid. | |||
| B. palaeindicus | |||||
| Leptobos | L. falconeri | A bovine bovid. | |||
| Bos | B. acutifrons | A bovine bovid. | |||
| Proamphibos | P. sp. | A bovine bovid | |||
| Caprinae | Indeterminate | An indeterminate caprine bovid. | |||
| Bucapra | B. deviesi | A caprine bovid | |||
| Reduncinae | Indeterminate | An indeterminate reduncine bovid. | |||
| Boselaphus | B. cf. namadicus | A bovine bovid. | |||
| Sivatragus | S. bohlini | A hippotragine bovid. | |||
| Bovidae | Indeterminate | Indeterminate bovids. | |||
| Gazella | G. sp. | An antilopine bovid | |||
| Sivacapra | S. subhimalayaensis | A caprine bovid | |||
| Sivacobus | S. palaeindicus | A reduncine bovid. | |||
| Megalotragus | M. sp. | An alcelaphine bovid. | |||
| Alcelaphus | A. sp. | An alcelaphine bovid. | |||
Cervids
| Cervids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Cervus | C. sivalensis | A large-size cervid. | |||
| C. triplidens | A cervid. | ||||
| C. sp. | A cervid. | ||||
| Metacervocerus | M. punjabiensis | A cervid. | |||
| Eucladoceros | E. sp. | A large cervid. | |||
| Praesinomegaceros | P. sp. | A large cervid. | |||
| Rucervus | R. sp. | A cervid. | |||
Giraffids
| Giraffids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Giraffa | G. sivalensis | A giraffid. | |||
| Sivatherium | S. giganteum | A giraffid. | |||
| S. sp. | |||||
Suids
| Suids from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Sus | S. falconeri | A suid. | |||
| S. hysudricus | |||||
| S. giganteus | |||||
| S. choprai | |||||
| Kolpochoerus | K. sp. | A suid. | |||
| Potamochoerus | P. theobaldi | A suid. | |||
| P. palaeindicus | |||||
| Sivachoerus | S. sp. | A suid. | |||
| Suidae | Indeterminate | Indeterminate suids. | |||
Other Ungulates
| Other Ungulates from the Pinjor Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Material | Location | Notes | Images |
| Hexaprotodon | H. sivalensis | A hippopotamid. | |||
| Camelus | C. sivalensis | A camelid. | |||
| Equus | E. cautleyi | An equid, includes Equus sivalensis. | |||
| E. namadicus | |||||
| Nestoritherium | N. sivalense | A chalicotheriid. | |||
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Kaur, A. P.; Saarinen, J.; Patnaik, R.; Chauhan, P. R.; Dennell, R. (2026). "Contextualizing Early to Middle Pleistocene hominin ecology in the Indian Subcontinent". Journal of Quaternary Science. doi:10.1002/jqs.70088.
- ↑ V. Kumaravel, S. J. Sangode; Rohtash Kumar, N. Siva Siddaiah (2005). "Magnetic polarity stratigraphy of Plio–Pleistocene Pinjor Formation (type locality), Siwalik Group, NW Himalaya, India". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad184.
- ↑ Martin, J. E. (2019). "The taxonomic content of the genus Gavialis from the Siwalik Hills of India and Pakistan" (PDF). Papers in Palaeontology. 5 (3): 483–497. Bibcode:2019PPal....5..483M. doi:10.1002/spp2.1247. S2CID 134966832.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Srivastava, R., and H. H. Schleich. (2018). "Fossil Turtles and Crocodiles from the Caenozoic of S-Asia". ARCO-Nepal, Muhich, 1-324
- ↑ Chabrol, Nils; Jukar, Advait M.; Patnaik, Rajeev; Mannion, Philip D. (21 March 2024). "Osteology of Crocodylus palaeindicus from the late Miocene-Pleistocene of South Asia and the phylogenetic relationships of crocodyloids". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 24 (1) 2313133. doi:10.1080/14772019.2024.2313133.
- ↑ Buffetaut, E. (2022). Feduccia, A. (ed.). "The First-Named Fossil Ostrich: A Revision of Struthio asiaticus, from the Siwaliks of India". Diversity. 14 (10): 860. doi:10.3390/d14100860.
- ↑ Louchart, A., Vignaud, P., Likius, A., Brunet, M., & White, T. D. (2005). A large extinct marabou stork in African Pliocene hominid sites, and a review of the fossil species of Leptoptilos. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 50(3).
- 1 2 3 4 5 Dennell, R. W.; Coard, R.; Turner, A. (2008). "Predators and scavengers in Early Pleistocene southern Asia". Quaternary International. 192:78-88.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 "Pinjor Formation". indplex.geolex.org. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ Patnaik, R. (2002). "Pliocene Leporidae (Lagomorpha, Mammalia) from the Upper Siwaliks of India: Implications for phylogenetic relationships". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22(2):443–452
- ↑ Getahun, Dagmawit Abebe; Delson, Eric; Seyoum, Chalachew Mesfin (July 2023). "A review of Theropithecus oswaldi with the proposal of a new subspecies". Journal of Human Evolution. 180 103373. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2023.103373. hdl:10150/672281. Retrieved 5 March 2026 – via Elsevier Science Direct.
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- ↑ Werdelin, Lars & Lewis, Margaret E. (2001), "A revision of the genus Dinofelis (Mammalia, Felidae)", Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 132 (2): 147–258, doi:10.1006/zjls.2000.0260
- ↑ Jiangzuo, Q.; Liu, J. (2020). "First record of the Eurasian jaguar in southern Asia and a review of dental differences between pantherine cats". Journal of Quaternary Science. 35 (6): 817–830. Bibcode:2020JQS....35..817J. doi:10.1002/jqs.3222.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Jasinski, Steven E.; Abbas, Sayyed Ghyour; Mahmood, Khalid; Babar, Muhammad Adeeb; Khan, Muhammad Akbar (2023-11-02). "New Carnivoran (Mammalia: Carnivora) specimens from the Siwaliks of Pakistan and India and their faunal and evolutionary implications". Historical Biology. 35 (11): 2217–2252.
- ↑ Garrido, Guiomar; Arribas, Alfonso (2008). "Canis accitanus nov. sp., a new small dog (Canidae, Carnivora, Mammalia) from the Fonelas P-1 Plio-Pleistocene site (Guadix basin, Granada, Spain)". Geobios. 41 (8): 753. Bibcode:2008Geobi..41..751G. doi:10.1016/j.geobios.2008.05.002.
- 1 2 3 Lydekker, R. (1884). "Siwalik and Narbada Carnivora". Paleontologia Indica, 10:178-135.
- ↑ Lydekker, R. (1888). "Notes on Indian fossil Vertebrata; the ulna of Hyaenarctos". Records of Geological Survey of India, 21:145-146.
- ↑ Gaur, R.; Chopra, S. (22 March 1984). "Taphonomy, fauna, environment and ecology of Upper Siwaliks (Plio-Pleistocene) near Chandigarh, India". Nature. 308: 353–355. doi:10.1038/308353a0.
- 1 2 3 Hussain, A.; Khan, M. A.; Asim, M.; Abbas, S. G.; Babar, M. A.; Mahmood, K. (2026). "Paleodietary inferences of the Pleistocene (Pinjor Formation) ungulates from district Gujrat using mesowear analysis". Quaternary International. 762 110201. Bibcode:2026QuInt.76210201H. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2026.110201.