Closing the corridor – search for archaeocete fossils (Mammalia: Cetartiodactyla) in the Eocene deposits of Kangan area (Gulf region, Iran)

在伊朗波斯湾的Bandar-e-Kangan地区，在Pabdeh组（古均质岩石）的海洋沉积物中发现了大型脊椎动物的骨骼化石。一次短暂的考察确定了在康干背斜的始新世地层中可能埋藏着古岩石的遗骸。然而，发现的表面发现已被强烈风化，因此不可能进行明确的确定。现在计划进行有针对性的勘探和挖掘，以发现和恢复未风化的骨骼遗骸。该遗址位于印度浅海沉积物（伊普雷斯-巴顿期）和埃及Wadi Al-Hitan的西特提斯省（巴顿期-普里亚伯期）之间的走廊上，主要是龙鲸科的衍生，完全是海洋代表。伊朗的发现可能对解释副生古藻类的系统发育和发展具有重要意义，并可能扩展我们对鲸类动物进化的认识。最终，进一步的讨论取决于我们挖掘活动的成功，也取决于发现的性质和保存。发现地点的地理数据应该有助于重建发现化石的年代和环境。

In the Bandar-e-Kangan region, Persian Gulf, Iran, fossilised bones of large vertebrates were found in the marine deposits of the Pabdeh Formation (Palaeogeneous rocks). A short expedition provided the certainty that there were probably archaeocete remains embedded in the Eocene beds of the Kangan anticline. However, the discovered surface finds were strongly weathered, so that a distinct determination was not possible. A targeted prospection and excavation is now planned in order to find and recover unweathered skeletal remains. The site is located in the corridor between the excellently documented basal archaeocetes from the shallow marine sediments of Indopakistan (Ypresian-Bartonian) and the western Tethys province of Wadi Al-Hitan in Egypt (Bartonian-Priabonian) with predominantly derived, fully marine representatives of the Basilosauridae.Findings from Iran could be of great importance for the interpretation of the phylogeny and development of the paraphyletic archaeocetes and could extend our knowledge regarding the evolution of cetaceans. Ultimately, further discussion depends on the success of our excavation activities, also on the nature and preservation of findings. Geodata from sites of discovery should help to reconstruct age and environment of discovered fossils.