Artiodactyla

The artiodactyl assemblage of the upper Miocene fossil locality Nikiti 2, Northern Greece, is rediscussed in the light of new data provided by a second, five-year long round of fieldwork. The significantly enriched artiodactyl material allows revising and updating previous systematic interpretations. Along with the previously recorded Helladotherium duvernoyi, Gazella cf. capricornis, and Nisidorcas planicornis, two more giraffids (Palaeotagus rouenii, and Palaeotraginae indet.) and two additional bovid taxa (Gazella pilgrimi, and Palaeoryx cf. pallasi) are recognized. Bovid material previously referred to Tragoportax aff. rugosifrons is reinterpreted here as partly belonging to T. amalthea, and partly to a second boselaphine taxon close to Miotragocerus. Furthermore, the medium-sized spiral horned antelope originally referred to as cf. Ouzocerus is now attributed to a primitive morphotype of Palaeoreas lindermayeri. As a whole, the updated artiodactyl assemblage from Nikiti 2 includes three giraffid and seven bovid taxa. According to local biochronological evidence and the primitiveness of both Palaeoreas and Nisidorcas, an early Turolian age is suggested for the Nikiti 2 fauna.