中国科学院南京地质古生物研究所机构知识库

In this paper, we restudy previously reported material of Gomphotherium connexum and G. shensiensis from China. G. connexum is characterized by the strong posterior pretrite central conules of the upper molars, which are larger than the corresponding anterior ones (at least in the second loph), the narrow interloph(id)s, the high central conules, and the narrow contour of m3. Gomphotherium cf. shensiensis (here is attributed to G. connexum) from the Junggar Basin is more derived than the type material of G. connexum in larger size and heavier cementum. G. connexum is very similar to G. angustidens, which was widely distributed in the Middle Miocene (MN6-8) of Europe. Gomphotherium shensiensis (here is attributed to G. cf. subtapiroideum) shows crest-like elements in the teeth crowns. The posttrite lophs are subdivided and anteroposteriorly compressed, and the interlophs are relatively anteroposteriorly wide. These features are similar to G. subtapiroideum, which occurred in the later Early Miocene to the earlier Late Miocene (MN5-9) of Europe. This revision of Chinese Gomphotherium demonstrates strong similarities in Gomphotherium species between eastern and western Eurasia, representing a continental diffusion of Gomphotherium species across the Palearctic region.