Rhagapodemus (Rodentia, Mammalia) from the Karewas of Kashmir (India): another Evidence of Pliocene Faunal Exchange between Europe and N W India

With the discovery of fossil arvicolids (Rodentia) in the Indian subcontinent from the Karewas of Kashmir, it was argued that a faunal exchange may have occurred between NW India and Europe during the Late Pliocene. Based on the initial findings of Rhagapodemus from the Karewas and the material described here, it is evident that such a faunal exchange indeed took place and at least some Pliocene rodent taxa dominating Europe and never reported from South Asia were present in the Kashmir Valley around 2.4 Ma and perhaps even before. The Indian species Rhagapodemus debruijni, is relatively primitive compared to the similar aged European forms but is closer to R. primaevus (Upper Miocene, MN 13) and R. hautimagnensis (Ruscinian, MN 14). It is suggested that R. debruijni does not belong to the European stock, but had a parallel lineage in the Kashmir Valley in geographic isolation. This faunal exchange is clearly evident at high elevation localities but seems less evident at low elevations in the Indian subcontinent.