The first equid remains are reported from sediments at the late Miocene Ogallala stratotype locality (Joseph R Thomasson Site 9a=JRT Site 9a) of the Prolithospermum johnstonii-Nassella pohlii Assemblage Zone in Ellis County, Kansas. The two specimens were recovered from a diatomaceous marl unit approximately in the middle of the zone and consist of a right lower fourth premolar (Rp4) and a left third metatarsal of the grazing tridactyl equid Neohipparion eurystyle. The presence of Neohipparion eurystyle within this plant assemblage zone supports the suggestion of a savanna or savanna parkland in the region during deposition of the fossils and is evidence for a Miocene Hemphillian Land Mammal Age assignment for the stratum from which the fossils were recovered. Other fossils collected from the same stratum as the horses, including diatoms, a partial frog ilium, ostracods, charophytes, sedge rhizomes, and mollusks, indicate the presence of a pond.
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1 April 2007
First equid remains from the late Miocene Prolithospermum johnstonii-Nassella pohlii assemblage zone stratotype locality, Ellis County, Kansas
Michelle K. Darnell,
Joseph R. Thomasson
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Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science
Vol. 110 • No. 1
April 2007
Vol. 110 • No. 1
April 2007
Ellis County
equids
Kansas
Miocene
Nassella pohlii
Prolithospermum johnstonii