Fossil ruminants from the Pliocene site of Jradzor, Armenia

Seven ruminant taxa have been identified at the Pliocene Jradzor site in Armenia: Bovini indet., Gazellospira sp., Antilopini indet., Caprinae indet. 1 (cf. Eosyncerus ), Caprinae ndet. 2, Caprini indet., and Cervinae indet. Jradzor is an exceptionally well-dated site. The ruminant remains derive from two layers dated to the end of the Early Pliocene (ca. 4 Ma) and the late Pliocene (ca. 3.3 Ma). These horizons correspond to a poorly known interval in Sourhwest Asia - the Late Ruscinian, MN15 and early Villafranchian, MN16a - and provide insights into the faunal composition of the South Caucasus.