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| Archaeomeles neglecta Kargopoulos, Valenciano, Jiangzuo, Liakopoulou, Gerakakis, Kampouridis, Paparizos, Svorligkou, Filis, Sklavounou & Roussiakis, 2026 |
Abstract
The evolution of Mustelidae has been a topic of debate, obscured by a complex system of convergences between phylogenetically distant groups. In this work, we present a new genus and species of mustelid, Archaeomeles neglecta gen. et sp. nov., from the classical Turolian locality of Pikermi (Greece, Late Miocene, MN12). The material consists of a skull with the associated mandible and shows distinct features that clearly differentiate it from all other known mustelid genera. These characteristics include a long and narrow rostrum, the absence of developed sagittal and supraorbital crest, relatively slender mandibular corpus, enamel folds on the lower canines, the wide P3 and p4, and the moderately enlarged M1 talon and m1 talonid. Morphometrical comparisons and phylogenetic analysis suggest that Archaeomeles is a stem member of the Melinae along with the other Turolian mustelids Promeles, Polgardia and Melodon from Eurasia. Ecomorphological comparisons indicate intermediate dietary habits between the plesiomorphic gulonines and the derived extant badgers, suggesting a diet that is based on small vertebrates and invertebrates as well as plant material.
Keywords: Carnivora, Ecomorphology, Mustelidae, Phylogeny, Turolian
Systematic palaeontology
Order Carnivora Bowdich, 1821
Suborder Caniformia Kretzoi, 1943
Family Mustelidae Batsch, 1788
Subfamily Melinae Bonaparte, 1838
Genus Archaeomeles gen. nov.
Type and only species. Archaeomeles neglecta sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Mustelid of the size of the extant European otter (Lutra lutra); rostrum long and slender; P1/p1 present; P2/p2 two-rooted; P3 significantly wide; P4 moderately shortened; P4 with hypocone region moderately developed; M1 moderately expanded distolingually, with metaconule and a high protocone; mandibular corpus slender; lower canine with enamel folds; p4 slender without marked accessory cuspids, m1 with low trigonid cuspids, talonid moderately enlarged and basin-like, without entoconid and entoconulid, but with distinct hypoconid and a minute, buccally situated hypoconulid.
Derivation of name: Archaeo-, from the Greek word Ἀρχαῖος meaning ancient, and -meles meaning badger. The name Archaeomeles, ‘ancient badger’, is chosen to highlight its key position in the radiation of the Melinae in the Turolian.
Archaeomeles neglecta sp. nov.
Holotype. AMPG-P.A. 4879/91 – skull with an associated mandible.
Derivation of name. The specific name neglecta comes from the feminine of the Latin word neglectus meaning neglected. It refers to the holotype being overlooked in the collections of AMPG for over a century.
Type Locality. Pikermi (classical layers), Attica, Greece.
Age. 7.33–7.29Ma, Turolian, Late Miocene (MN 12).
Nikolaos Kargopoulos, Alberto Valenciano, Qigao Jiangzuo, Dionysia Liakopoulou, Nikolaos Gerakakis, Panagiotis Kampouridis, Nikolaos Paparizos, Georgia Svorligkou, Panagiotis Filis, Stamatina Sklavounou and Socrates Roussiakis. 2026. A New Genus of Badger from Pikermi (Greece) and A Review of the Systematics and Evolution of Miocene Melinae (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 24(1); 2647483. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2026.2647483 [24 Apr 2026]
