New evidence for the co-occurrence of two genera of Paleoparadoxiidae (Mammalia, Desmostylia) from the Middle Miocene of Japan: insights into taxonomic status and paleodiversity in Desmostylia.

ABSTRACT: Desmostylia, an extinct order of marine mammals, includes two major families: Paleoparadoxiidae and Desmostylidae. Within Paleoparadoxiidae, three genera-Archaeoparadoxia, Paleoparadoxia, and Neoparadoxia-have been identified, with Paleoparadoxia being the only genus found on both coasts of the North Pacific Rim. In Akan, Hokkaido, Japan, one of the largest Paleoparadoxia fossil assemblages in the world has been discovered from the Middle Miocene Tonokita Formation. Previous studies suggested the presence of two congeneric species of Paleoparadoxia, while recent taxonomical revisions raise the possibility that two genera, Paleoparadoxia and Neoparadoxia, were present in Akan. Here, we describe three paleoparadoxiids specimens from Aka

SUBMITTER: Asai Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12318504 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature