Spalacotherium evansae Ensom & Sigogneau-Russell, 2000

(Fig. 34A, B)

DESCRIPTION

Three teeth of Spalacotheriidae have been recognized including two molars, which have the characteristic “symmetrodont” pattern with acute angulation of the principal cusps, seen in other spalacotheriids (Fig. 34A; Kielan-Jaworowska et al. 2004). The best preserved of the molars ANG M-26 lacks the posterior root and the hypoconulid (cusp d) (Fig. 34A, B). The protoconid, the metaconid and the paraconid are welldeveloped. The talonid was probably much reduced. Mesially, a single cusp e is lingually placed on the cingulid (Fig. 34B), and allows the identification of this tooth as a left lower molar. ANG M-26 is very similar, if not identical, to a tooth referred to Spalacotherium evansae (DORC GS 360, Ensom & Sigogneau-Russell 2000). Its smaller size compared to that of the molars of other species of Spalacotherium, the incompleteness of the labial cingulid associated with the equivalent height of the paraconid and metaconid, are diagnostic features (Ensom & Sigogneau-Russell 2000), that allow us to assign this specimen to Spalacotherium evansae . The latter species has been decribed from various localities of the Purbeck Group, including the Berriasian Lulworth Formation at Sunnydown Farm, U.K.