THE PLIOCENE OF EUROPE, ASIA, AND NORTH AMERICA 335 



Especially interesting in the forest fauna are ancestral true deer of 

 medium and small size, and belonging to several species. To the forest 

 fauna too is referred the fox (Vulpes) which, we shall find (p. 308), is first 

 recorded in the older Pliocene of Europe, the otter (Lutra), badger (Meles), 

 and the characteristic JMiocene and Pliocene saber-tooth tigers {Mochcero- 

 dus), similar to forms discovered at Pikermi and Eppelsheim, are also found 

 here. To the forest fauna Schlosser likewise attributes the mastodon, 

 two kinds of two-horned rhinoceroses {Dicerorhinus), a forest-living gazelle 

 (Gazella) , and several species of Sus. 



It is iioteworthy that a true horse of south Asiatic type (Equus sivalensis), 

 as well as the gigantic camel Paracamelus, are also included in this older 

 fauna. We have seen that Equus ^ is a distinctive feature of the Upper 

 Pliocene both of Europe and Asia. It would appear possible that the 

 association of these animals of more advanced evolution with the older 

 Pliocene or Upper Miocene types may be due to an error in the geologic 

 records. 



Other very characteristic forms inhal:)iting China, of which the geologic 

 age reference in the present writer's opinion is somewhat doubtful, are the 

 chalicotheres {Ancylotherium sinense), the tapirs {T. sinensis), and the 

 hippopotami. Schlosser considers both the tapir (op. cit., p. 73) and 

 the chalicothere (op. cit., p. 75) as Pleistocene. The survival of the latter 

 animal into Pleistocene times is a record of exceptional interest; it rests 

 upon somewhat slender evidence. 



3. Pleistocene of India 



The Karnul Caves in the district of Madras, southeast India, as studied 

 by Lydekker,- give us a picture of south Asiatic life in Pleistocene times. 

 The fauna as a whole has lost the greater part of its cosmopolitan Plio- 

 cene aspect, and closely resembles the typical Oriental fauna of modern 

 India; however, it still retains a certain affinity with the African fauna, 

 particularly in the presence of a baboon (Cynocephalus), of the spotted 

 hyaena (Hywna crocuta), of a small equine very similar to the Abyssinian 

 ass (Equus asinus), and a pangolin indistinguishable from the recent giant 

 pangolin (Manis gigantea) of west Africa. Most of the Asiatic species 

 represented in these caves are now extinct, but they have a less primitive 

 aspect than the forms of the Upper Pliocene of the Narbada Valley. The 

 Asiatic elements include monkeys, tigers and leopards, jungle cats, viver- 

 rines, sloth bears, porcupines, and mice. Among the larger Herbivora, 

 beside the wild ass of African tyjDe there is an ass similar to the existing 

 south Asiatic onager (E. onager). The rhinoceros presents affinities to the 



' Many of the specimens referred to Equus probably belong to the older evolutionary 

 stage. 



^ Lydekker, R., The Fauna of the Karnul Caves. Indian Tertiary and Post-tertiary 

 Vertel)rata. Pal. Ind., Mem. Geol. Surv. India, Ser. 10, Vol. IV, Pt. 2, 1S8G. 



