A new species of Prosansanosmilus: implications for the systematic relationships of the family Barbourofelidae new rank (Carnivora, Mammalia)

Abstract

A new barbourofelid species, Prosansanosmilus eggeri, is described from the Middle Miocene (MN 5) locality of Sandelzhausen, Germany. It differs from all other European barbourofelid species in being smaller and showing a more plesiomorphic morphology, especially in the relatively less developed sabretooth adaptations, low accessory cusps on the premolars, and the remnant of a very small talonid on the carnassial. The species is, however, stratigraphically later than the more apomorphic P. peregrinus, which is known from MN 4 of Germany and France. A phylogenetic analysis based on dental characters of early nimravids, barbourofelids and felids supports previous results on skull morphology of Barbourofelis that Barbourofelinae is not closely related to the Late Eocene and Oligocene Nimravinae. Instead, both subfamilies should be treated as separate families, with the Barbourofelidae closely related to the Felidae. The Barbourofelidae differ from the Felidae as well as from the Nimravidae s.s., particularly in the unique morphology of their basicranium. They presumably originated in Africa; P. eggeri sp. nov. is interpreted as part of a Miocene immigration of African faunal elements into Europe that took place at the beginning of MN 5.

The carnivoran community from the Miocene of Sandelzhausen (Germany)

“…Amphicyon major, Ischyrictis zibethoides, P. pusillus, and Martes munki have a wider stratigraphic range and therefore do not help to pinpoint the stratigraphic age of the Sandelzhausen locality. Some faunal elements are only known from Europe, such as Ischyrictis zibethoides, P. romieviensis, and Prosansanosmilus eggeri, but the latter also marks an immigration event from Africa in MN5 (Morlo et al 2004). In general, with the exception of A. cf.…”

“…The complete material was described in detail by Morlo et al (2004). The mandible is laterally compressed but nevertheless the flange is clearly visible.…”

“…Prosansanosmilus eggeri Morlo, Peigné, and Nagel, 2004. 1996 Pseudailurus sp. -Fahlbusch and Liebreich: 30, fig.…”

El cambio de ideas acerca de la evolución y morfología functional de los félidos Machairodontinos

“…Barbourofelis, Sansanosmilus and several related genera were also classified as members of the Nimravidae, but their anatomy is rather different from that of typical nimravids leading some specialists to include them within the Felidae (Morales et al, 2001). However, their ear region differs significantly from that of felids, as observed by Bryant (1991) and Hunt (1987), and it may be justified to keep those genera in a new, separate family, the Barbourofelidae, as proposed by Morlo et al (2004) (fig. 3).…”

New Miocene Carnivora (Mammalia) from Moruorot and Kalodirr, Kenya

“…Katifelis gen. nov. differs from the Barbourofelidae by the lack of m1 metaconid, present in Barbourofelidae, and the presence of the m1 talonid, lost in Barbourofelidae (Morlo et al, 2004) (Figure 7). The absence of m2 differs from Proailurus (Filhol, 1881), along with an m1 protoconid taller than paraconid, though both have lost the metaconid (Werdelin, 2012).…”