Prosansanosmilus eggeri, Morlo & Peigné & Nagel, 2004

Morlo, Michael, Peigné, Stéphane & Nagel, Doris, 2004, A new species of Prosansanosmilus: implications for the systematic relationships of the family Barbourofelidae new rank (Carnivora, Mammalia), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 140 (1), pp. 43-61 : 45-46

PROSANSANOSMILUS EGGERI SP. NOV.

pars 1974 Pseudailurus quadridentatus . Dehm in Fahlbusch et al. 121, 125.

1996 Pseudailurus quadridentatus . Fahlbusch & Liebreich: fig. 34b.

Holotype: BSP 1959 II 8051 ( Figs 1, 3A, Fahlbusch & Liebreich, 1996: fig. 34b), right mandible with C/1, P/3-M/1.

Paratype: BSP 1959 II 8055 ( Figs 2 , 3E), fragment of left maxilla with alveoli of P2/, complete P3/–M1/.

Additional material: BSP 1959 II 8053 ( Fig. 3B), fragment of right mandible with posterior part of P/3, P/4- M/1. BSP 1959 II 8054 ( Fig. 3D), fragment of left mandible with fragment of P/4, M/1. BSP 1959 II 8057 ( Fig. 3G), isolated fragment of left P/4. BSP 1959 II 8058 ( Fig. 3F), isolated right P/4. BSP 1959 II 9041 ( Fig. 3C), fragment of left mandible.

Type locality: Sandelzhausen, Bavaria, Germany.

Age and distribution: Hitherto solely known from MN 5 of Sandelzhausen.

Etymology: Named in honour of J. Egger, mayor of the village of Sandelzhausen, who has supported the excavation of Middle Miocene fossils on municipal land since 1993.

Diagnosis: Prosansanosmilus eggeri sp. nov. is the smallest known European barbourofelid, about 20% smaller than the type species of the genus, P. peregrinus . The single possible apomorphy which distinguishes P. eggeri from P. peregrinus is the slightly more elongated M/1. P. eggeri mostly differs from P. peregrinus by more primitive features: genial mandibular flange smaller; postcanine diastema on the mandible much shorter; P/3 larger relative to M/ 1, with posterior accessory cusp lower and relatively smaller and posterior cingulid shorter; P/4 larger in proportion to M/1, with an anterior cusp lower and a main cusp less posteriorly orientated; M/1 with a carnassial blade less open, protoconid slightly taller relative to total length of M/1, metaconid less reduced and posterior cingulid stronger; preparastyle of P4/ smaller, located anterolabially to the parastyle which is shorter and lower, protocone of P4/ slightly larger and more anteriorly placed relative to the anterior face of the parastyle, due to the lacking elongation of this cusp as in P. peregrinus . Moreover, P. eggeri retains a double-rooted P2/ and a well developed P3/ with a small lingual lobe.

Description

Holotype ( Figs 1, 3A): The mandible is laterally compressed due to the taphonomic process and therefore the curvature typical for barbourofelids is not obvious. However, this character can be observed in the other mandibular remains (e.g. BSP 1959 II 8053, see below). A genial flange was present, but is now partially broken. The only visible mental foramen is beneath the third quarter of the diastema, directly above the flange. C/1 shows medial abrasion and is laterally compressed, as is also seen in P. peregrinus . The tip slopes slightly backwards and the lingual and posterior crests are crenulated. P/1–2 are lacking. Instead, a diastema 17.85 mm long is present. P/3 consists of a slightly retracted protoconid, the preprotocristid, which extends to a small anterolingual basal swelling of the cingulid, an accessory posterior cusp, and a basal posterior cusp. The posterior accessory cusp and basal cusp are much less prominent than in P/4. The protoconid of P/4 is only slightly retracted, the anterior basal cusp points lingually and is lower than the posterior basal one. The cristids of the protoconid are crenulated. M/1 has a well defined metaconid that is stronger than that of P. peregrinus and a very small talonid which consists only of the posterior cingulid. The preprotocristid of the holotype is broken, but the carnassial notch is visible. It is about 25%

Figures

Figure 2. Prosansanosmilus eggeri sp. nov. Paratype (BSP 1959 II 8055) in (A) labial, (B) lingual and (C) occlusal views. Note anterolabial pointing and low preparastyle of P4/.