Pliocene Bovidae (Mammalia) from the Koro Toro Australopithecine sites, Chad

The Australopithecus-bearing of Koro Toro in central Chad yielded at least 9 species of bovids (Ruminantia: Bovidae). They all belong to genera found in North and/or East Africa, but three new species are named. Kobus korotor ensis, sp. nov. is quite distinct from East African species, and is probabl y an early offshoot from primitive Reduncines. Kobus tchadensis, sp. nov. i s more like some East African forms. Parmularius pachyceras, sp. nov. shoul d rather be compared with a North African species. This relative endemism h inders precise biochronological correlation, but the best fit is in the ran ge 2.7-3.4 Ma. The lack of Tragelaphines, and an abundance of Reduncines, A lcelaphines and Antilopines definitely points towards an open environment, that was drier than most East African sites of this age.