A new [sectolophid Tapiromorph (Perissodactyla, Mammalia) from the Early Eocene of Pakistan

A new genus and species of tapiromorph, Karagalax mamikhelensis, is describ ed from the Eocene Mami Khel Formation of northwest Pakistan. The new speci es is known from adult and juvenile dentitions, juvenile skulls, and partia l postcrania. It is the most primitive perissodactyl yet reported from Indo -Pakistan. The morphology of its lophodont molars indicates that Karagalax is a tapiromorph, and it is here included in the primitive family Isectolop hidae. Karagalax is more derived (more lophodont) than North American isect olophids Systemodon and Cardiolophus or the Asian early Eocene Orientolophu s and Homogalax wutuensis, and more primitive (less lophodont) than North A merican Homogalax and Isectolopus. It is distinct from the poorly known and enigmatic Indian isectolophid Sastrilophus. Karagalax lacks any derived fe atures of the Deperetellidae, Helaletidae or Lophialetidae, including Kalak otia, a primitive lophialetid from the middle Eocene of northwest India. Th e partial postcrania of Karagalax, which include fragmentary humeri, femora , ulnae, tibiae and metapodials, show a combination of primitive and derive d features and suggest that it was more cursorial than other basal tapiromo rphs for which postcrania are known. A provisional analysis of the phylogenetic positions of Karagalax and Kalak otia supports the hypothesis that primitive perissodactyls dispersed to Ind o-Pakistan, most probably by way of continental Asia. The evolutionary posi tion of Karagalax is consistent with an early Eocene age for H-GSP Locality 300, as argued previously on the basis of other mammals.