Mammal fossils and fossil-bearing sediments in the Tsailiao area of Tainan, the most important area yielding Quaternary mammal fossils on the land of Taiwan : A review of previous researches and prospects toward the future

Abstract

Tsailiao and its surroundings in southwest Taiwan are the most important area for Quaternary mammalian paleontology in Taiwan, because the area has yielded more abundant and diversified mammal fossils than any other areas on the land of Taiwan. This area has also been known by the occurrence of ancient human bones called “Chochen man” fossils. This paper first outlines the history of research into the mammal fossils and sediments bearing the fossils in this area which started in the 1930’s and have continued until the present-day. Secondly, this paper reviews the stratigraphy and chronology of the fossil-bearing sediments which are assigned to marine mudstone and sandstone called the Chiting Formation dated mainly to the Middle Pleistocene and overlying fluvial terrace deposits dated to the Holocene. In addition, this paper reviews the taxonomy of the mammal fossils from this area, and the problems on the “Chochen man”. The non-human mammal fossils are assigned to at least 19 forms in species level which belong to six orders. The “Chochen man” fossils are dated to the late Holocene and are considered to be contained in the terrace deposits or recent alluvial deposits. This paper lastly points out the problems on fossil localities in this area, on stratigraphy and chronology of fossil-bearing sediments, on fossil collection and storage, on taxonomy of each mammal form, and on relationship among the faunas of other countries, and presents the prospects toward future researches.