A shortage of Cenozoic vertebrate fossils in the Tibetan Plateau has been an obstacle in our understanding of biological evolution in response to changes in tectonism, topography, and environment. This is especially true for Paleogene records, so far known by only two sites along the northern rim of the Plateau. We report a Hongyazi Basin in northern Tibetan Plateau that produces at least three mammalian faunas that span Oligocene through late Miocene. Located at the foothills of the Danghe Nanshan and presently connected to the northern margin of the Suganhu Basin through the Greater Haltang River, the intermountain basin is controlled by the tectonics of the Danghe Nanshan to the north and Chahan’ebotu Mountain to the south, making the basin sediments well suited for inferring the evolutionary history of these two mountain ranges. At the bottom of the local section, the Oligocene Haltang Fauna is best compared to the early Oligocene Desmatolagus-Karakoromys decessus assemblage in the Dingdanggou Fauna in Tabenbuluk Basin. The Middle Miocene Ebotu Fauna from the middle Hongyazi section shares many taxa with the late Middle Miocene Tunggur mammal assemblage in Inner Mongolia, such as Heterosminthus orientalis, Megacricetodon sinensis, Democricetodon lindsayi, and Alloptox gobiensis. Toward the top of the section, the Hongyazi Fauna includes late Miocene elements typical of Hipparion faunas of North China. All three faunas are of typical North China-Central Asian characteristics, suggesting a lack of geographic barriers for faunal differentiation through the late Miocene. Sedimentary packages producing these faunas are arrayed from north to south in progressively younger strata, consistent with a compressive regime to accommodate shortening between Danghe Nanshan and Chahan’ebotu Mountain by thrust faults and folds. With additional constraints from vertebrate fossils along the northern flanks of the Danghe Nanshan, an eastward propagation of the Danghe Nanshan is postulated.
References
[1]
Wang X, Li Q, Qiu Z-d, Xie G-p, Wang B-y, et al.. (2013) Chapter 10. Neogene mammalian biostratigraphy and geochronology of the Tibetan Plateau. In: Wang X, Flynn LJ, Fortelius M, editors. Fossil Mammals of Asia: Neogene Biostratigraphy and Chronology. New York: Columbia University Press. 274–292.
[2]
Bohlin B (1937) Eine Terti？re s？ugetier-fauna aus Tsaidam. Sino-Swedish Expedition Publication (Palaeontologia Sinica Series C, Volume 14) 1: 3–111.
[3]
Huang W-b, Ji H-x, Chen W-y, Hsu C-q, Zheng S-h (1980) Pliocene stratum of Guizhong and Bulong Basin, Xizang. In: Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Comprehensive Scientific Investigation Team of Chinese Academy of Sciences, editor. Paleontology of Tibet, Part 1. Beijing: Science Press. 4–17.
[4]
Li C-k, Qiu Z-d (1980) Early Miocene mammalian fossils of Xining basin, Qinghai. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 18: 198–214.
[5]
Zheng S-h (1980) The Hipparion fauna of Bulong Basin, Biru, Xizang. In: Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Comprehensive Scientific Investigation Team of Chinese Academy of Sciences, editor. Paleontology of Tibet, Part 1. Beijing: Science Press. 33–47.
[6]
Wang X, Qiu Z-d, Li Q, Wang B-y, Qiu Z-x, et al. (2007) Vertebrate paleontology, biostratigraphy, geochronology, and paleoenvironment of Qaidam Basin in northern Tibetan Plateau. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 254: 363–385.
[7]
Wang X, Li Q, Xie G-p, Saylor JE, Tseng ZJ, et al. (2013) Mio-Pleistocene Zanda Basin biostratigraphy and geochronology, pre-Ice Age fauna, and mammalian evolution in western Himalaya. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 374: 81–95.
[8]
Qiu Z-d, Li Q (2008) Late Miocene Micromammals from the Qaidam Basin in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 46: 284–306.
[9]
Wang X, Wang B-y, Qiu Z-x, Xie G-p, Xie J-y, et al. (2003) Danghe area (western Gansu, China) biostratigraphy and implications for depositional history and tectonics of northern Tibetan Plateau. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 208: 253–269.
[10]
Wang X, Wang B-y, Qiu Z-x (2008) Early explorations of Tabenbuluk region (western Gansu Province) by Birger Bohlin - reconciling classic vertebrate fossil localities with modern stratigraphy. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 46: 1–19.
[11]
Zhang X-d, Xie G-p (1988) The first discovery of the Hongyazi Hipparion fauna and its significance for upheaval of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Gansu Geology 9: 87–91.
[12]
Gu Z-g, Zhang D-x, Xie G-p (1988) The Pliocene beds in Mount Hongyazi, in the main range of Qilian mountains and the northern rimland of Chaidam Basin. Journal of Lanzhou University (Natural Sciences) 24: 78–83.
[13]
Yin A, Dang Y, Wang L-C, Jiang W-M, Zhou S-P, et al. (2008) Cenozoic tectonic evolution of Qaidam basin and its surrounding regions (Part 1): The southern Qilian Shan-Nan Shan thrust belt and northern Qaidam basin. Geological Society of America Bulletin 120: 813–846.
[14]
Chen X-h, Dang Y-q, Yin A, Wang L-q, Jiang W-m, et al.. (2010) Basin-Mountain Coupling and Tectonic Evolution of Qaidam Basin and its Adjacent Orogenic Belts. Beijing: Geological Publishing House. 365 p.
[15]
Meyer B, Tapponnier P, Bourjot L, Métivier F, Gaudemer Y, et al. (1998) Crustal thickening in Gansu-Qinghai, lithospheric mantle subduction, and oblique, strike-slip controlled growth of the Tibet plateau. Geophysical Journal International 135: 1–47.
[16]
Gilder S, Chen Y, Sen S (2001) Oligo-Miocene magnetostratigraphy and rock magnetism of the Xishuigou section, Subei (Gansu Province, western China), and implications for shallow inclinations in central Asia. Journal of Geophysical Research 106: 30505–30521.
[17]
Yin A, Rumelhart PE, Butler RE, Cowgill E, Harrison TM, et al. (2002) Tectonic history of the Altyn Tagh fault system in northern Tibet inferred from Cenozoic sedimentation. Geological Society of America Bulletin 114: 1257–1295.
[18]
Ritts BD, Yue Y-j, Graham SA (2004) Oligocene-Miocene tectonics and sedimentation along the Altyn Tagh Fault, northern Tibetan Plateau: analysis of the Xorkol, Subei, and Aksay basins. Journal of Geology 112: 207–230.
[19]
Sun J-m, Zhu R-x, An Z-s (2005) Tectonic uplift in the northern Tibetan Plateau since 13.7 Ma ago inferred from molasse deposits along the Altyn Tagh Fault. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 235: 641–653.
[20]
Zhuang G, Hourigan JK, Ritts BD, Kent-Corson ML (2011) Cenozoic multiple-phase tectonic evolution of the northern Tibetan Plateau: Constraints from sedimentary records from Qaidam basin, Hexi Corridor, and Subei basin, northwest China. American Journal of Science 311: 116–152.
[21]
Wang B-y, Qiu Z-x, Wang X, Xie G-p, Xie J-y, et al. (2003) Cenozoic stratigraphy in Danghe area, Gansu Province, and uplift of Tibetan Plateau. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 41: 66–75.
[22]
Bohlin B (1945) Palaeontological and geological researches in Mongolia and Kansu 1929–1933. Sino-Swedish Expedition Publication 26: 257–325.
[23]
Bohlin B (1937) Oberoligoz？ne S？ugetiere aus dem Shargaltein-Tal (Western Kansu). Sino-Swedish Expedition Publication (Palaeontologia Sinica, New Series C, No 3) 6: 1–66.
[24]
Regional Geological Survey of Gansu Bureau of Geology (1985) Geological Map of the People’s Republic of China, Yuka Quadrangle (1:200,000, J-46-(18)). Lanzhou: Bureau of Geology of Gansu Province.
[25]
Sun CC (1939) Report on Geology of Yumen Oilfied of Gansu (in Chinese, unpublished).
[26]
Qiu Z-d (1996) Middle Miocene micromammalian fauna from Tunggur, Nei Mongol. Beijing: Academic Press. 216 p.
[27]
Chen G-f (1988) Remarks on the Oioceros species (Bovidae, Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the Neogene of China. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 26: 157–172.
[28]
Wang B-y (1997) The mid-Tertiary Ctenodactylidae (Rodentia, Mammalia) of eastern and central Asia. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 234: 1–88.
[29]
Gu Z-g, Wang R-l, Dang Y-h (1985) Discovery of Hipparion and other fossils on the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 36: 246.
[30]
Ji H-x, Hsu C-q, Huang W-b (1980) The Hipparion fauna from Guizhong Basin, Xizang. In: Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Comprehensive Scientific Investigation Team of Chinese Academy of Sciences, editor. Paleontology of Tibet, Part 1. Beijing: Science Press. 18–32.
[31]
Yue L-p, Deng T, Zhang R, Zhang Z-q, Heller F, et al. (2004) Paleomagnetic chronology and record of Himalayan movements in the Longgugou section of Gyirong-Oma Basin in Xizang (Tibet). Chinese Journal of Geophysics 47: 1135–1142.
[32]
Qiu Z-x, Qiu Z-d, Deng T, Li C-k, Zhang Z-q, et al.. (2013) Chapter 1. Neogene land mammal stages/ages of China – toward the goal to establish an Asian land mammal stage/age scheme. In: Wang X, Flynn LJ, Fortelius M, editors. Fossil Mammals of Asia: Neogene Biostratigraphy and Chronology. New York: Columbia University Press. 29–90.
[33]
Flynn LJ, Wessels W (2013) Chapter 18. Paleobiogeography and South Asian small mammals: Neogene altitudinal faunal variation. In: Wang X-m, Flynn LJ, Fortelius M, editors. Fossil Mammals of Asia: Neogene Biostratigraphy and Chronology. New York: Columbia University Press. 445–460.
[34]
Qiu Z-x, Qiu Z-d (1990) The sequence and division of mammalian local faunas in the Neogene of China. Journal of Stratigraphy 14: 241–260.
[35]
Qiu Z-d, Qiu Z-x (2013) Chapter 4. Early Miocene Xiejiahe and Sihong fossil localities and their faunas, eastern China. In: Wang X, Flynn LJ, Fortelius M, editors. Fossil Mammals of Asia: Neogene Biostratigraphy and Chronology. New York: Columbia University Press. 142–154.
[36]
Bohlin B (1946) The fossil mammals from the Tertiary deposit of Taben-buluk, Western Kansu, Part II: Simplicidentata, Carnivora, Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, and Primates. Sino-Swedish Expedition Publication (Palaeontologia Sinica, New Series C, No 8B) 28: 1–259.
[37]
Cao Z-x, Du H-j, Zhao Q-q, Cheng J (1990) Discovery of the middle Miocene fossil mammals in Guanghe District, Gansu and their stratigraphic significance. Geoscience 4: 16–29.
[38]
Wu W-y, Meng J, Ye J, Ni X-j, Bi S-d, et al. (2009) The Miocene mammals from Dingshanyanchi Formation of north Junggar Basin, Xinjiang. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 47: 208–233.
[39]
Qiu Z-d, Wang X, Li Q (2006) Faunal succession and biochronology of the Miocene through Pliocene in Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia). Vertebrata PalAsiatica 44: 164–181.
[40]
Qiu Z-d, Wang X, Li Q (2013) Chapter 5. Neogene faunal succession and biochronology of central Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia). In: Wang X, Flynn LJ, Fortelius M, editors. Fossil Mammals of Asia: Neogene Biostratigraphy and Chronology. New York: Columbia University Press. 155–186.
[41]
Schmidt-Kittler N, Vianey-Liaud M, Marivaux L (2007) 6. The Ctenodactylidae (Rodentia, Mammalia). In: Daxner-H？ck G, editor. Oligocene-miocene vertebrates from the Valley of Lakes (Central Mongolia): Morphology, phylogenetic and stratigraphic implications. Viena: Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien. 173–215.
[42]
Wang B-y, Qiu Z-x (2004) Discovery of early Oligocene mammalian fossils from Danghe area, Gansu, China. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 42: 130–143.
[43]
Hoffmann RS (1989) The Tibetan Plateau fauna, a high altitude desert associated with the Sahara-Gobi; Rome. International Theriological Congress. 738.
[44]
Hoffmann RS (1991) The Tibetan Plateau fauna, a high altitude desert associated with the Sahara-Gobi. In: McNeely JA, Neronov V, editors. Mammals of the Palaearctic Desert: Status and Trends in the Sahara-Gobi Region. Moscow: Russian Academy of Sciences. 285–297.
[45]
Wang X, Xie G-p, Dong W (2009) A new species of crown-antlered deer Stephanocemas (Artiodactyla, Cervidae) from middle Miocene of Qaidam Basin, northern Tibetan Plateau, China, and a preliminary evaluation of its phylogeny. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 156: 680–695.
[46]
Google Earth (Version 6.1.0.5001) (2011) Available from http://www.google.com/earth/download/ge/？agree.html.Mountain View, CA: Google Inc.
[47]
Ryan WBF, Carbotte SM, Coplan JO, O’Hara S, Melkonian A, et al.. (2009) Global Multi-Resolution Topography synthesis. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 10.
[48]
GeoMapApp (Version 3.3.6) (2013) Available from http://www.geomapapp.org.
