Gujaratia

Gujaratia Temporal range: Early to middle Eocene (Ypresian to Lutetian)
Gujaratia pakistanensis and Pakicetus inachus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	† Diacodexeidae
Genus:	† Gujaratia Bajpai et al, 2005
Species
†G. pakistanensis †G. indica

Gujaratia is an extinct genus of medium-sized mammals belonging to the family Diacodexeidae, that lived in Pakistan and India during the early to middle Eocene (Ypresian to Lutetian ages). It was formerly considered a species of Diacodexis (a genus now believed to be paraphyletic), but was placed in its own genus in 2005. ^{[1] [2]}

Description

Gujaratia is an early artiodactyl, or even-toed ungulate. Based on comparisons to its close relative Diacodexis, it would have resembled a modern duiker, measuring about 50 centimetres (1.6 ft) in body length, but with a much longer tail. Unlike most later species of artiodactyl, it still had five toes on each foot, although the third and fourth toes were already elongated. It may also have had small hooves on each toe. Its teeth suggest that it was a herbivorous browser. ^[3]

Fossil distribution

Gujaratia has been found in various locations in Pakistan and India. Most notably, it was present in the Kuldana Formation, where it coexisted with several early cetaceans, such as Pakicetus and Ambulocetus . ^[2]

References

1. Bajpai, S., Kapur, V. V., Das, D. P., Tiwari, B. N., Saravanan, N., & Sharma, R. (2005). Early Eocene Land Mammals From Vastan Lignite Mine, District Surat (Gujarat), Western India. Journal of the Palaeontological Society of India, 50(1), 101-113. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971102320050106
2. Rautela, A., & Bajpai, S. (2023). Gujaratia indica, the oldest artiodactyl (Mammalia) from South Asia: new dental material and phylogenetic relationships. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2023.2267553
3. Palmer 1999 , p. 266

Bibliography

• Palmer, D. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. ISBN   1-84028-152-9.