A New Giraffid Bramiscus Micros Nov. Gen. Nov. Sp. (ruminantia, Giraffidae) from the Miocene of Northern Pakistan

We report new cranial, dental, and postcranial remains of a new early giraffid from the Middle Miocene of Pakistan: Bramiscus micros nov. gen. nov. sp. (Ruminantia, Giraffidae). The material comes from the fossil site Dhok Bun Amir Khatoon (Chinji Formation 14-11.4 Ma, Lower Siwaliks), located in the Chakwal district (Punjab, Pakistan). Additional remains were identified from the Hasvard Siwaliks Collection. The new findings show fused anterior ossicones, as in Bramatherium . The metatarsals possess a strong medial ridge and a weak lateral ridge, a feature encountered only in Bramatherium perimense . The size of our taxon is smaller than Bramatherium , hence the name. Bramiscus micros nov. gen. nov. sp. coexisted at the same time with other giraffids, such as Progiraffa exigua, Giraffokeryx punjabiensis, Giraffa priscilla, Giraffa punjabiensis, and other still unnamed taxa.