The Giraffidae of Maragheh and the identification of a new species of Honanotherium

Giraffids were important components of the late Miocene Maragheh mammalian community. We provide detailed cranial and post-cranial morphological descriptions of six Maragheh giraffids, including Helladotherium duvernoyi , Alcicephalus neumayri , Samotherium boissieri , Samotherium major , Palaeotragus coelophrys and Bohlinia attica , extending the geological range of several taxa. We also describe a new species of Honanotherium ( Honanotherium bernori ), a taxon smaller than Honanotherium schlosseri . This is the westernmost occurrence of Honanotherium . We create our giraffid faunal list by first identifying each Maragheh specimen to a species, creating a representative specimen/species list. Subsequently, each specimen is described by comparing the Maragheh elements with the corresponding specimens from the type locality where each species is originally known. This method allows for accurate species identifications, and facilitates palaeoecological comparisons between multiple localities using morphological differences in the taxa. For palaeoecology, we evaluate and analyse the dentition of a few adult Maragheh giraffids using combined inner and outer mesowear variables, and find individuals spanning the dietary continuum, but with a polarity towards browsing diets. We describe limb differences among the Palaeotraginae, describe dental and limb similarities between Helladotherium duvernoyi and species of Bohlininae, and discuss the ossicones of Bohlininae. We provide comprehensive and detailed anatomical descriptions of seven giraffid taxa that can facilitate future species identifications and comparisons.