The Siwaliks, part of the outer Himalayas, span Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Fossils found here reveal a rich diversity of mammals that lived between 18 million and 1 million years ago. These include animals like elephants, rhinoceroses, hippos, giraffe-like creatures, rodents, primates, and carnivores.
A team of researchers, including Dr. Steven Jasinski from Harrisburg University, has published a study on fossil carnivoran mammals from the Himalayan foothills in northern India. They described new specimens of these mammals that lived between 10 and 4 million years ago.
The study reveals that these newly discovered fossils shed fresh light on our understanding of carnivorous mammals. Among the finds are mustelids, viverrids, and felids (cats).
Mustelids, such as ferrets and weasels, are widespread today, inhabiting all continents except Australia and Antarctica. Viverrids, including civets and genets, are smaller carnivores currently found in regions like Africa, southern Asia, and southern Europe.
The fossils uncovered include a partial skull, jaws, and teeth. Among the finds are the first upper-jaw fossil of the rare mustelid Martes lydekkeri and fossils of a small cat. The team also described two new species: a mustelid and a viverrid.
One new species, Circamustela bhapralensis, marks the first discovery of this type of mustelid in India. It is the youngest known species of its genus, with older European relatives. This suggests a migration from Europe over 5 million years ago, during which these animals adapted to the Himalayas and evolved smaller bodies. This species, roughly the size of a ferret, weighed around 1–2 kg.
The discovery of Vishnuictis plectilodous, a new viverrid species, has revealed fascinating insights into ancient ecosystems. This species, with its complex teeth, likely had a varied diet compared to its more carnivorous relatives. Remarkably, it was one of the largest viverrids known, possibly as big as a leopard and weighing over 100 kg.
These findings are significant because they provide a window into the biodiversity of the Himalayan foothills around 5 million years ago. Studying the past deepens our understanding of Earth’s history and helps us predict how our planet might respond to current and future environmental changes.
During global cooling, mammals in the Himalayan foothills faced significant environmental changes, adapting alongside other animals and plants. Fossil discoveries, including species previously known only from Europe and two new carnivoran species, reveal that the region’s mammalian diversity and taxonomy were far more intricate than previously thought.
These findings suggest connections, likely through migrations of smaller mammals, between Europe and Asia during the Late Miocene (about 10–5 million years ago). These complex ecosystems and food webs offer valuable insights into the impact of historical climate changes, aiding efforts to understand and address modern conservation challenges.
The research team aims to continue gathering fossils and expanding their studies to better understand this critical period in Earth’s history. Fossil records provide invaluable insights into life’s evolution over billions of years and form a foundation for predicting future changes. Understanding the past helps us anticipate future challenges and devise strategies to protect ecosystems for future generations.
Journal Reference
- Sankhyan, A.R., Abbas, S.G., Jasinski, S.E. et al. Rare carnivorous mammals from a diverse fossil assemblage from the Middle Siwaliks of Haritalyangar area, Himachal Pradesh, North India. J Mammal Evol 32, 14 (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10914-025-09749-4
Source: Tech Explorist
