Ua pilbeami: a new taxon of Giraffidae (Mammalia) from the Chinji Formation of Pakistan with phylogenetic proximity to Okapia

Ua pilbeami is a new genus and species of Giraffidae that was discovered in the Chinji Formation of Pakistan. It is most similar to Okapia and Afrikanokeryx of the Okapiinae (Bohlin, 1926). Ua and Okapia share ossicones with an exposed apex and constriction, a large anterior frontal sinus, and a para-style on the upper pre-molars that is deeply separate from the meso-styles. The lower premolar anterior stylids and posterolingual conids are also deeply separated. The metapodials resemble those of Giraffokeryx and Giraffa. Comparisons to other subfamilies of Giraffidae show the uniqueness of Ua n. gen. The discovery encourages the notion that Okapiinae may have originated in the Indian Subcontinent.