Ferinestrix vorax, BJORK, 1970

Wolsan, Mieczyslaw & Sotnikova, Marina, 2013, Systematics, evolution, and biogeography of the Pliocene stem meline badger Ferinestrix (Carnivora: Mustelidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 167 (1), pp. 208-226 : 213

FERINESTRIX VORAX BJORK, 1970 ( FIG. 3 )

Ferinestrix vorax – Bjork, 1970: 19–21, 48, 49, 51, fig. 11; Galbreath, 1972: 786; Hibbard, 1972: 128; Kurtén & Anderson, 1980: 155; Anderson, 1984: 258, 261; McDonald, Link & Lee, 1996: 42; Baskin, 1998: 164; Ruez, 2005: 107 A; Sotnikova, 2006: 84; Ogino et al., 2007: 125 A; Ruez, 2009a: 70; Ruez, 2009b: 2, 49, 112; Matishov & Kalmykov, 2011a: 819, 821; Matishov & Kalmykov, 2011b: 1467, 1469.

Etymology: Derived from the Latin vorax meaning ‘voracious’.

Revised diagnosis: Differs from Ferinestrix rapax in the following features: condyloid and angular processes of the dentary situated more ventrally (condy- loid process is at the level of the m1 crown; angular process is ventral to the level of the m1 crown); mental foramina closer to each other and located more rostrally (caudal mental foramen is in front of p4); space between c1 and p4 relatively smaller (shortest distance between the alveolar rims of c1 and p4 is smaller than the mesiodistal length of the p4 crown); lower cheek-tooth series more arcuate; lingual wall of the m1 talonid higher with a series of larger elevations relative to the vestibular wall; m1 hypoconulid smaller and positioned more basally relative to the hypoconid; m2 placed more ventrally relative to m1.

Holotype: UMMP 53343 , an incomplete right dentary with p4, partial m1, and m2 ( Fig. 3 ).

Type locality: Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument (HAFO) locality 63 [University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology Idaho locality (UM-Ida) 1-65], Glenns Ferry Formation, HAFO, near the town of Hagerman, Idaho, USA ( Bjork, 1970; Ruez, 2009a).

Referred specimen: Bjork (1970) referred to this species a femur, UMMP 49941 , collected from the HAFO locality 153 (UM-Ida 76-64). As this specimen was not associated with the holotype and no other femur referable to Ferinestrix is known, this referral is disputable .

Distribution and age: Known only from the HAFO localities 63 (holotype) and 153 (referred femur). Approximate ages for these localities are 3.2 and 3.6 Mya, respectively, both within Blancan III, Pliocene ( Ruez, 2009a).

Description: The morphological characteristics and size of the holotype dentary and lower teeth are similar to or within the range of variation of those in Ferinestrix rapax except for the features indicated in the revised diagnosis (compare Fig. 3 with Figs 4–6 ; see Tables 3, 4). For a detailed description of the holotype and referred femur, see Bjork (1970).

Figures

Figure 3. Holotype incomplete right dentary with p4, partial m1 (lacking the lingual part of its trigonid), and m2 of Ferinestrix vorax, UMMP 53343. A, dorsal view; B, lateral view; C, medial view. Photographs of a cast coated with ammonium chloride. Scale bar = 10 mm.

Figure 4. Referred incomplete mandible with right i1–i3, partial c1, and p2–m2 and left c1 and p2–m1 of Ferinestrix rapax sp. nov., GIN-BF 987/411-1 + 411-2 + 411-3, coated with ammonium chloride. A, dorsal view; B, right half in lateral view; C, right half in medial view. Scale bar = 10 mm.

Figure 5. Stereophotograph of the occlusal aspect of the right lower dentition in a referred specimen of Ferinestrix rapax sp. nov., GIN-BF 987/411-1 + 411-2 + 411-3, coated with ammonium chloride. Scale bar = 10 mm.

Figure 6. Referred partial left dentary with i1, i2, c1, broken p2, and p3–m1 of Ferinestrix rapax sp. nov., GIN-BF 987/251, coated with ammonium chloride. A, dorsal view; B, lateral view; C, medial view. Scale bar = 10 mm.