Cephalogale sp.

WANG, XIAOMING, McKENNA, MALCOLM C. & DASHZEVEG, DEMBERELYIN, 2005, Amphicticeps and Amphicynodon (Arctoidea, Carnivora) from Hsanda Gol Formation, Central Mongolia and Phylogeny of Basal Arctoids with Comments on Zoogeography, American Museum Novitates 3483, pp. 1-58 : 39

? Cephalogale sp.

Figure 15A–C

REFERRED SPECIMEN: MAE SG.97.5396, left ramal fragment with m2.

COMMENTS: MAE SG.97.5396 (fig. 15A– C) is clearly not assignable to the Hsanda Gol ursoids discussed above. The size of the m2 indicates an animal of the size of Amphicticeps dorog , but it does not have the extremely shortened m2 of the latter. Indicating its primitive status, MAE SG.97.5396 has a paraconid platform in front of the protoconid, and the paraconid is separate from the protoconid by a weak notch. A paraconid is absent in the Hsanda Gol Amphicticeps and Amphicynodon . Furthermore, the protoconid and metaconid are not widely separate from each other, as in both of the above genera. The morphological condition in MAE SG.97.5396 evokes that of a more primitive carnivoran, and the fact that it has an m3 alveolus tends to suggest a basal arctoid among known lineages in this period of time.

In size and overall proportions, MAE SG.97.5396 is closest to a recently described small arctoid, Pachycynodon tedfordi Wang and Qiu, 2003 , from the early Oligocene Saint Jacques locality of Chinese Inner Mongolia (see further comments below about its generic status). Unfortunately, the m2 on the Chinese specimen is too worn to permit detailed comparisons.

Figures

Fig. 15. A, stereophotos of occlusal view of left m2, B, labial view of jaw, and C, lingual view of jaw of MAE SG.97.5396,?Cephalogale sp. D, stereophotos of occlusal view of right m1–2, E, labial view of jaw, and F, lingual view of jaw of IVPP V10527.1,?Amphicticeps sp. G, stereophotos of right M1,?Amphicticeps sp. Scales 5 10 mm.