[PaleoMammalogy • 2026] Archaeomeles neglecta • A New Genus of Badger from Pikermi (Greece) and A Review of the Systematics and Evolution of Miocene Melinae (Carnivora: Mustelidae)

Archaeomeles neglecta 

Kargopoulos, Valenciano, Jiangzuo, Liakopoulou, Gerakakis, Kampouridis, Paparizos, Svorligkou, Filis, Sklavounou & Roussiakis, 2026

  DOI: doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2026.2647483  

 x.com/paleo_alberto

 

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]

  x.com/paleo_alberto/status/2047713035066736997

[PaleoMammalogy • 2025] Circamustela bhapralensis, Vishnuictis plectilodous, ... • Rare Carnivorous Mammals from A diverse Fossil Assemblage from the Middle Siwaliks of Haritalyangar area, Himachal Pradesh, North India

Circamustela bhapralensis

Sankhyan, Abbas, Jasinski, Khan & Mahmood, 2025

 

DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s10914-025-09749-4

 www.harrisburgu.edu 

 x.com/StevenJasinski 

Artwork by Sergey Krasovskiy

Abstract

Newly collected fossil carnivoran material from the Haritalyangar and Nurpur Middle Siwalik sequences of Himachal Pradesh (India) include at least five taxa and two new species including Mustelidae (‘Martes’ lydekkeri, Circamustela bhapralensis sp. nov., Mustelidae indet.), Viverridae (Vishnuictis plectilodous sp. nov.), and Felidae (indeterminate basal Felinae). These findings include the first upper jaw material of ‘Martes’ lydekkeri, a rare mustelid known only from lower jaw specimens, suggesting potentially closer relationships with European mustelids. Additionally, we report the first identification of Circamustela from the Siwaliks of the Indian subcontinent, despite nearly two centuries of fossil collection in the region. This material represents a new species Circamustela bhapralensis sp. nov. Circamustela, originating in Europe, eventually migrated to the Indian subcontinent before its extinction, and the smaller body size of the new species may suggest a trend toward decreasing body size in this taxon. Fossil viverrid material also represents a new species, Vishnuictis plectilodous sp. nov., the youngest species yet known for the genus. This new material implies an increase in morphological complexity in the m1 of these viverrids, potentially also suggesting an increase in dietary diversity within this lineage. The new viverrid species may also represent the largest viverrid yet known. Mandibular material of a feline is also described, providing further information on the biodiversity of the fossil carnivorans in the region. These new specimens add important information to our knowledge of the ancient biodiversity of the region, the evolutionary history of several carnivoran mammals, and the carnivoran guild of southern Asia.

Keywords: Carnivora, Felidae, Haritalyangar, India, Mustelidae, Neogene, Siwaliks, Viverridae

Circamustela bhapralensis sp. nov.

Vishnuictis fossil comparisons.
a–c. Holotype m1 of Vishnuictis plectilodous sp. nov. (HTA-68), complete right m1 in occlusal (a), medial (lingual) (b), and lateral (labial) (c) views. d. Terminology for various features of the m1 of V. plectilodous sp. nov. (HTA-68).
e–g. Holotype right mandibular ramus containing p4 and m1 of V. hasnoti comb. nov. (HTA-135), modified from Pilgrim (1932: pl. II, figs. 18, 18a, 18b) in occlusal (e), medial (lingual) (f), and lateral (labial) (g) views. Scale bars equal 1 cm

Vishnuictis plectilodous sp. nov.

 

Anek Ram Sankhyan, Sayyed Ghyour Abbas, Steven E. Jasinski, Muhammad Akbar Khan and Khalid Mahmood. 2025. Rare Carnivorous Mammals from A diverse Fossil Assemblage from the Middle Siwaliks of Haritalyangar area, Himachal Pradesh, North India. Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 32; 14. DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s10914-025-09749-4 [22 March 2025]

Study on New Fossil Carnivorous Mammals from Himalayan Foothills 

 www.harrisburgu.edu/news/2025-04-01-new-fossil-carnivorous-mammals-himalayan 

 x.com/StevenJasinski/status/1907906123111539000

[Mammalogy • 2025] Mustela mopbie • Phylogenomics of the Genus Mustela (Carnivora: Mustelidae) with Description of A New Species from China

Mustela mopbie  

in Wei, Cao, He, Abramov, Wang, J. Fu, Li, Yang, L.-Q. Fu, Huang, Zhou, Wen et Ge, 2025.

   DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jse.70029 

 x.com/JournalSysEvo

Abstract

Weasels represent the most widely distributed and diverse lineage within the family Mustelidae. They have experienced adaptive radiation and have long been the subject of significant taxonomic debates. This study undertakes a comprehensive study of this group, employing morphological measurements, mitochondrial genomes, nuclear genes, and single copy orthologs extracted from whole genome data. Based on the outcomes of phylogenetic tree construction using orthologous genes, it is ultimately verified that the genera Mustela and Neogale are independent genera, thereby resolving the controversy regarding the species they encompass. Through molecular systematics and morphological studies, a putative Mustela species collected from Mabian Dafengding National Nature Reserve in Sichuan is confirmed as a new species, designated Mustela mopbie sp. nov. This new species exhibits molecular phylogenetic affinity with M. altaica and M. nivalis, yet shares morphological similarities with M. kathiah, M. nivalis and M. aistoodonnivalis. Notably, it is considerably smaller than these species and possesses distinctive body coloration and tail morphology. This study provides a detailed description of this new species and demonstrates that larger datasets yield more robust phylogenetic signal. Furthermore, we observed substantial incongruence between mitochondrial and nuclear gene trees, suggesting potential genomic introgression between this new species and its closely related congeners (M. altaica and M. nivalis).

Keywords: cytonuclear discordance, genetic distance, morphological differentiation, Mustela, systematic classification

Mustela mopbie sp. nov.

Qiu-Jin Wei, Lei Cao, Xing-Cheng He, Alexei Abramov, Jin Wang, Jie Fu, Rui Li, Qi-Sen Yang, Li-Qiang Fu, Yao-Hua Huang, Cai-Quan Zhou, Zhi-Xin Wen and De-Yan Ge. 2025. Phylogenomics of the Genus Mustela with Description of A New Species from China. Journal of Systematics and Evolution. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jse.70029 [14 November 2025]

 x.com/JournalSysEvo/status/1993418072376655931

 

[PaleoMammalogy • 2024] New insights on the enigmatic Otters from the Late Miocene of Tuscany: Tyrrhenolutra maremmana nov. comb. (Carnivora: Mustelidae: Lutrinae), with A Phylogeny of bunodont otters

 Tyrrhenolutra maremmana Hürzeler, 1987

in Faggi, Bartolini-Lucenti et Rook, 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.54103/2039-4942/22479 

Artwork by Sara Scheggi

Abstract

Otters, subfamily Lutrinae (Mustelidae), are predators that thrive in aquatic environments, and have a semiaquatic to fully aquatic lifestyle. While modern otters are found across the globe, their fossil history is limited, primarily documented by fragmented dentognathic remains. In this work, we report on and describe new dental remains of a medium-sized Lutrinae from the Late Miocene of Baccinello and Casteani (Tuscany), improving the poor fossil record of the subfamily in Europe. Tyrrhenolutra helbingi Hürzeler, 1987 is a poorly known species, described on some dental remains from the Baccinello mines and a few other localities. Considering its peculiar morphology, it has often been overlooked in the scientific literature. Description of the material stored at the Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel and Museo di Geologia e Paleontologia dell’Università di Firenze offers new insights on the intraspecific variability and dental morphology of this taxon. The comparative study of these findings highlights several morphological and biometrical similarities between T. helbingi and Paludolutra maremmana Hürzeler, 1987, which allow us to redefine these taxa as Tyrrhenolutra maremmana nov. comb. We carried out a total-evidence cladistic analysis seeking support for morphometric and morphological similarities between T. “helbingi” and “P.” maremmana. The resulting parsimony analyses support the synonymy, excluding a close relationship of T. maremmana with Paludolutra of Italy and Spain, as previously thought. Furthermore, we confirm a long-forgotten hypothesis identifying Limnonyx Crusafont Pairó, 1950 as the possible continental ancestor of Tyrrhenolutra.

Keywords: Neogene; Baccinello; Carnivora; mustelid; taxonomy; cladistic.

Mandibles of Tyrrhenolutra maremmana nov. com. from Baccinello V1, Casteani and Montebamboli.
A-C) NMB.Bac.54, left and right hemimandible with right p2-m1 and left p2-m1, A: right buccal view; B: occlusal view; C: left buccal view.
D-F) NMB.Bac.52, left hemi-mandible with p2-m2, D: buccal view (mirrored); E: occlusal view; F: lingual view (mirrored).
G-H) NMB.Bac.55, right hemimandible fragment with c-p4, G: buccal view; H: occlusal view; I: lingual view.
J-K) IGF 11756c, left mandible with p2, m1 and m2, J: buccal view (mirrored); K: occlusal view; L: lingual view (mirrored).
M-O) MSNUP N.1, right mandible fragment with c, p3, p4, M: buccal view; N: occlusal view; O: lingual view.

Restoration of Tyrrhenolutra maremmana based on the cranial material from the Late Miocene of Tuscany.

 Artwork by Sara Scheggi

ANDREA FAGGI, SAVERIO BARTOLINI-LUCENTI and LORENZO ROOK. 2024. New insights on the enigmatic Otters from the Late Miocene of Tuscany: Tyrrhenolutra maremmana nov. comb. (Lutrinae, Mustelidae, Carnivora), with A Phylogeny of bunodont otters. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia (Riv. It. Paleontol. Strat. - Research in Paleontology and Stratigraphy). 130(2); 259-284. DOI: doi.org/10.54103/2039-4942/22479 [July 2024]

[PaleoMammalogy • 2022] Enhydriodon omoensis • Lutrinae Bonaparte, 1838 (Carnivora, Mustelidae) from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Lower Omo Valley, southwestern Ethiopia: Systematics and New Insights into the Paleoecology and Paleobio­geography of the Turkana Otters

Reconstruction of the otter Enhydriodon omoensis (in background), compared with three current species, left to right: Pteronura brasiliensis [South American giant otter]; Enhydra lutris [sea otter]; and Aonyx capensis [African otter]. 
E. omoensis occupied Ethiopia’s Lower Omo Valley at the same time as human ancestors known as Australopithecines

Grohé, Uno & Boisserie, 2022

 sciencepress.MNHN.fr

We describe otter remains (Lutrinae Bonaparte, 1838) from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Lower Omo Valley of southwestern Ethiopia. We report isolated lower and upper teeth of Torolutra sp. dated to c. 3.3 Ma, dental specimens and a femur of Enhydriodon Falconer, 1868, attributed to a new species, dated between c. 3.4 Ma and 2.5 Ma, as well as a humerus of Lutrinae indet. dated between c. 1.9 Ma and 1.8 Ma. The new species Enhydriodon omoensis n. sp. is the largest species of the genus discovered so far. It is even larger than its close relative E. dikikae Geraads, Alemseged, Bobe & Reed, 2011, a Pliocene lion-sized otter from the Afar region and potentially from eastern Turkana. Based on stable oxygen and carbon isotope analyses, we found that Enhydriodon from the Lower Omo Valley could have been terrestrial and fed on both aquatic and terrestrial prey, acquired by either hunting or scavenging. It filled a unique ecological niche in the past communities co-existing with australopithecines. Enhydriodon and Torolutra Petter, Pickford & Howell, 1991 went extinct in Africa around the Plio-Pleistocene transition, along with many large-sized and ecologically specialized carnivorans. This extinction event could be linked to the many geological, climate, and biotic changes occurring in the eastern African rift during this period, notably the incursion of early hominins into the carnivore guild.

KEYWORDS: Otters, carnivorans, Africa, ecological niche, stable isotopes, new species

Enhydriodon omoensis n. sp. 

Etymology. — species name is derived from the lower Omo valley, where it has been recovered.

Reconstruction of the otter Enhydriodon omoensis (in background), compared with three current species, left to right: the South American giant otter; the sea otter; and an African otter. E. omoensis occupied Ethiopia’s Lower Omo Valley at the same time as human ancestors known as Australopithecines (shown here for size comparison along with a modern human). The otter’s femur and dental remains are shown in insets. 

by Sabine Riffaut, Camille Grohé / Palevoprim / CNRS – Université de Poitiers

Camille GROHÉ, Kevin UNO & Jean-Renaud BOISSERIE. 2022. Lutrinae Bonaparte, 1838 (Carnivora, Mustelidae) from the Plio-Pleistocene of the Lower Omo Valley, southwestern Ethiopia: Systematics and New Insights into the Paleoecology and Paleobio­geography of the Turkana otters. COMPTES RENDUS PALEVOL. 21(30); 681-705. DOI: 10.5852/cr-palevol2022v21a30

 sciencepress.MNHN.fr/en/periodiques/comptes-rendus-palevol/21/30

 phys.org/news/2022-09-ethiopia-scientists-fossil-otter-size.html

 

Lutrinae Bonaparte, 1838 (Carnivora, Mustelidae) du Plio-Pléistocène de la basse vallée de l’Omo, sud-ouest éthiopien : systématique et nouvelles données sur la paléoécologie et la paléobiogéographie des loutres du Turkana

Nous décrivons des restes de loutres (Lutrinae Bonaparte, 1838) du Plio-Pléistocène de la basse vallée de l’Omo, au Sud-Ouest de l’Éthiopie. Nous rapportons des dents inférieures et supérieures isolées de Torolutra sp., datées de c. 3,3 Ma, des specimens dentaires et un femur d’Enhydriodon Falconer, 1868, attribués à une nouvelle espèce, datés entre c. 3,4 et 2,5 Ma, ainsi qu’un humérus de Lutrinae indet., daté entre c. 1,9 et 1,8 Ma. La nouvelle espèce Enhydriodon omoensis n. sp. est la plus grande espèce du genre découverte à ce jour. Elle est encore plus grande que son proche parent E. dikikae Geraads, Alemseged, Bobe & Reed, 2011, une loutre pliocène de la taille d’un lion provenant de la région de l’Afar et potentiellement de l’Est du Turkana. Elle remplissait une niche écologique singulière dans les communautés du passé coexistantes avec les australopithécines. À partir des analyses des isotopes stables de l’oxygène et du carbone, nous avons mis en evidence qu’Enhydriodon de la basse vallée de l’Omo devait être terrestre et se nourrir de proies aquatiques et terrestres, acquises par la chasse ou le charognage. Enhydriodon et Torolutra Petter, Pickford & Howell, 1991 se sont éteintes en Afrique aux environs de la transition Plio-Pléistocène, à la même période que de nombreux carnivores de grande taille et spécialisés d’un point de vue écologique. Cet évènement d’extinctions pourrait être lié aux nombreux changements géologiques, climatiques et biotiques associés au rift est-africain durant cette période, notamment à l’incursion des hominines anciens dans la guilde carnivore.

MOTS-CLÉS: Loutres, carnivores, Afrique, niche écologique, isotopes stables, espèce nouvelle

[PaleoMammalogy • 2022] Aragonictis araid • A Small-sized Hypercarnivore (Carnivora, Mustelidae) from the late middle Miocene of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain)

 Aragonictis araid

Valenciano, Morales, Azanza & Demiguel. 2022

DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2021.2005615  

  twitter.com/Paleo_Alberto

ABSTRACT

Small to medium-sized mustelids from the last 18 million years represent a heterogeneous group of carnivorans with a wide-ranging record in the northern hemisphere. They were first referred to the genera Mustela and Martes, but lately ascribed to the latter, and hence considered as the longest-lived genus within Mustelidae. However, a great many of these forms have been based upon fragmentary material and Martes has conformed progressively to a wastebasket nomen for species of uncertain relationships. Here, we describe dentognathic material of a small-sized mustelid from three middle Miocene (MN7 + 8, latest Aragonian) localities of the Iberian Peninsula that constitutes a new genus and species. Aragonictis araid, gen. et sp. nov. represents a distinct taxon if compared with early/middle Miocene forms ascribed to “Martes” spp., especially the similar-sized early Miocene Circamustela? laevidens and the middle Miocene “Martes” caedoti and “Martes” delphinensis. The finding of particular features in A. araid (low p2–3, loss or reduction of the p4 accessory cuspid with its main cuspid centrally located, presence of a sharp, beveled and lingually open m1 talonid, and reduction of M1 lingual platform) indicates affinities with the late Miocene Circamustela in the range of hypercarnivory. Our reassessment of “Martes” indicates possible evidence of cladogenesis for Miocene mustelidae with, at least, two different events being recognized in Europe—the latter during MN7 + 8 to MN9 with presence of Aragonictis and Circamustela. The finding of A. araid further confirms the presence of more densely forested environments than expected in inner Iberia during the latest middle Miocene.

Order CARNIVORA Bowdich, 1821

Suborder CANIFORMIA Kretzoi, 1943

Family MUSTELIDAE Batsch, 1788

Subfamily GULONINAE Gray, 1825

Genus ARAGONICTIS, gen. nov.

Type and Only Included Species—Aragonictis araid, gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology— Aragon-, for the autonomous community of Spain in which the Aragonian biozone was defined (European Land Mammal Age: late early Miocene/middle Miocene); -ictis, Greek suffix for weasel-like mammals.

ARAGONICTIS ARAID, sp. nov.

Type Locality—Andurriales, MN7 + 8, local zone G3 (11.33 Ma; Van Dam et al., 2014), Zaragoza, Spain.

Etymology— After ARAID (acronym for the Fundación Agencia Aragonesa para la Investigación y el Desarrollo—in English, Aragonese Foundation for Research and Development), an agency created by the Government of Aragon with the aim of promoting research, development and innovation. In recognition of its implication in the research of vertebrate paleontology in Aragon.

 

Alberto Valenciano, Jorge Morales, Beatriz Azanza and Daniel Demiguel. 2022. Aragonictis araid, gen. et sp. nov., A Small-sized Hypercarnivore (Carnivora, Mustelidae) from the late middle Miocene of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. e2005615. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2021.2005615  

  twitter.com/Paleo_Alberto/status/1483008612704342017

[PaleoMammalogy • 2021] Vishnuonyx neptuni • A New early late Miocene Species of Vishnuonyx (Carnivora: Mustelidae: Lutrinae) from the Hominid Locality of Hammerschmiede, Bavaria, Germany

Vishnuonyx neptuni  

Kargopoulos, Valenciano, Kampouridis, Lechner & Böhme, 2021

 DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2021.1948858 

ABSTRACT

This study presents a new species of a large-sized lutrine from the upper Miocene hominid locality of Hammerschmiede, Vishnuonyx neptuni sp. nov., reporting the first occurrence of the genus in Europe and its most northern and western record. The new species differs from the already known members of the genus in size (intermediate between the African Vishnuonyx? angololensis and the Asiatic Vishnuonyx chinjiensis) and morphology, in particular in the larger P4 hypocone, the primitive morphology of M1 (paraconule present, enlarged protoconule and metaconule, labial expansion at the paracone area), the shorter and more robust lower premolars and the wider m1 trigonid. We hypothesized that the dispersal event that led to the expansion of the genus in Europe seems to be correlated with the water connection between Paratethys and the Mesopotamian Basin during the Konkian, between 13.4 and 12.65 Ma. In terms of paleoecology, it is here suggested that this form was feeding mainly on fish and less on bivalves or plant material, resembling the extant giant otter, Pteronura brasiliensis.

Vishnuonyx neptuni sp. nov.

 

Nikolaos Kargopoulos, Alberto Valenciano, Panagiotis Kampouridis, Thomas Lechner and Madelaine Böhme. 2021. New early late Miocene Species of Vishnuonyx (Carnivora, Lutrinae) from the Hominid Locality of Hammerschmiede, Bavaria, Germany. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. e1948858. 

DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2021.1948858 

Researchers in Germany discover a new species of otter

phys.org/news/2021-09-germany-species-otter.html

[PaleoMammalogy • 2020] New Insights Into the Giant Mustelids (Carnivora, Mustelidae) from Langebaanweg Fossil Site (West Coast Fossil Park, South Africa, early Pliocene)

the early Pliocene site Langebaanweg, South Africa

in Valenciano & Govender, 2020. 

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9221 

 peerj.com

Abstract 

Giant mustelids are a paraphyletic group of mustelids found in the Neogene of Eurasia, Africa and North America. Most are known largely from dental remains, with their postcranial skeleton mostly unknown. Here, we describe new craniodental and postcranial remains of the large lutrine Sivaonyx hendeyi and the leopard-size gulonine Plesiogulo aff. monspessulanus from the early Pliocene site Langebaanweg, South Africa. The new material of the endemic S. hendeyi, includes upper incisors and premolars, and fragmentary humerus, ulna and a complete astragalus. Its postcrania shares more traits with the living Aonyx capensis than the late Miocene Sivaonyx beyi from Chad. Sivaonyx hendeyi could therefore be tentatively interpreted as a relatively more aquatic taxon than the Chadian species, comparable to A. capensis. The new specimens of Plesiogulo comprise two edentulous maxillae, including one of a juvenile individual with incomplete decidual dentition, and a fragmentary forelimb of an adult individual. The new dental measurements point to this form being amongst the largest specimens of the genus. Both P3-4 differs from the very large species Plesiogulo botori from late Miocene of Kenya and Ethiopia. This confirms the existence of two distinct large species of Plesiogulo in Africa during the Mio/Pliocene, P. botori in the Late Miocene of Eastern Africa (6.1–5.5 Ma) and Plesiogulo aff. monspessulanus at the beginning of the Pliocene in southern Africa (5.2 Ma). Lastly, we report for the first time the presence of both Sivaonyx and Plesiogulo in MPPM and LQSM at Langebaanweg, suggesting that the differences observed from the locality may be produced by sedimentation or sampling biases instead of temporal replacement within the carnivoran guild.

Systematic Paleontology

Order Carnivora Bowdich, 1821

Suborder Caniformia Kretzoi, 1943

Family Mustelidae Fischer von Waldheim, 1817

Subfamily Lutrinae Bonaparte, 1838

Genus Sivaonyx Pilgrim, 1931

Type species: Sivaonyx bathygnathus (Lydekker, 1884) by original designation.

Other included species: S. africanus (Stromer, 1931); S. beyi; S. ekecaman Werdelin, 2003b; S. hendeyi; S. kamuhangirei Morales & Pickford, 2005; S. soriae Morales & Pickford, 2005 (=S. senutae Morales & Pickford, 2005 following Peigné et al., 2008); S. hessicus (Lydekker, 1890); Sivaonyx gandakasensis Pickford, 2007.

Remarks: Sivaonyx and Enhydriodon represent the largest African genera of bunodont otters, and their systematic position are debated (Morales & Pickford, 2005; Geraads et al., 2011; Grohé et al., 2013; Werdelin & Lewis, 2013, 2017; Werdelin, 2015; Ghaffar & Akhtar, 2016). Morales & Pickford, 2005 reassigned most of the African specimens with available dentition from Enhydriodon to Sivaonyx, a suggestion followed later by many authors (Pickford, 2007; Peigné et al., 2008; Lewis, 2008; Haile-Selassie, 2008; Haile-Selassie & Howell, 2009; Werdelin & Peigné, 2010; Grohé et al., 2013; Koufos, Mayda & Kaya, 2018), although recently new findings questioned this proposal (Geraads et al., 2011; Werdelin & Lewis, 2013; Werdelin, 2015). The aim of this work is not to resolve this controversy, and below we refer these taxa following the proposal of Morales & Pickford (2005). We also accept the presence of very large Enhydriodon in Africa with E. dikikae and Enhydriodon sp. from Woranso-Mille Area, Afar Region, Ethiopia, 3.6 Ma (Werdelin, Lewis & Haile-Selassie, 2014).

Sivaonyx hendeyi (Morales, Pickford & Soria, 2005)

Subfamily Guloninae Gray, 1825

Genus Plesiogulo Zdansky, 1924

Type species: Plesiogulo brachygnathus (Schlosser, 1903) by original designation.

Other included species: Plesiogulo marshalli (Martin, 1928); Plesiogulo monspessulanus Viret, 1939; Plesiogulo crassa Teilhard de Chardin, 1945; Plesiogulo praecocidens Kurtén, 1970; Plesiogulo lindsayi Harrison, 1981; Plesiogulo botori Haile-Selassie, Hlusko & Howell, 2004.

Plesiogulo aff. monpessulanus Viret, 1939

Locality: Langebaanweg, early Pliocene, LQSM and MPPM.

New material from Langebaanweg: SAM-PQL-40117, edentulous left maxillary of an adult specimen with P2-4 and M1 alveoli; SAM-PQL-47086, edentulous left maxillary of a juvenile specimen including a fragmented DP4 and alveoli for P3-M1 and DP3; SAM-PQL-6246, left distal part of a humerus; SAM-PQL-L3440, right distal part of a radius; C. SAM-PQL-6414, right proximal fragment of an ulna.

 Alberto Valenciano and Romala Govender. 2020. New Insights Into the Giant Mustelids (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from Langebaanweg Fossil Site (West Coast Fossil Park, South Africa, early Pliocene). PeerJ. 8:e9221 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9221  

New insights into the giant mustelids from Langebaanweg fossil site: Author Interview with Alberto Valenciano

peerj.com/blog/post/115284882572

[PaleoMammalogy • 2020] Corumictis wolsani • The Earliest Mustelid (Carnivora, Mustelidae) in North America

Corumictis wolsani  Paterson

in Paterson, Samuels, Rybczynski, et al., 2020. 

 DOI:  10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz091

twitter.com/DrMichaelJRyan

Illustration: Henry Sharpe twitter.com/bone_sharpe 

Abstract

Until now, the pre-Miocene fossil record of mustelids in North America has been restricted to specimens attributable to oligobunine taxa and isolated remains tentatively allocated to the genus Plesictis. In the present study, we report on a nearly complete cranium and a referred dentary of a new genus and species of mustelid. The specimens were recovered from the Turtle Cove and Kimberly Members of the John Day Formation, Oregon, USA.

These excellently preserved specimens more confidently confirm the presence of mustelids in the Early and Late Oligocene (Early and Late Arikareean) of North America. Like the holotype specimen of ‘Plesictis’ julieni, the new species lacks an alisphenoid canal and a postprotocrista on the M1 (synapomorphies of Mustelidae), but retains a dorsally deep suprameatal fossa (a feature occasionally suggested to be unique to Procyonidae). Phylogenetic analyses, applying parsimony and Bayesian inference to combined molecular (five genes totalling 5490 bp) and morphological data, recover this new species of mustelid as sister-species to ‘Plesictis’ julieni. The results of these analyses reveal that the new genus is a close relative of other species of Plesictis and several taxa traditionally allied with Oligobuninae, thereby rendering Oligobuninae paraphyletic. We further discuss the significance of the relatively small size of this new mustelid as it relates to predictions based on increased aridification of the palaeoclimate and the expansion of open habitats in the Oligocene.

Systematic palaeontology

Class Mammalia Linnaeus, 1758

Order Carnivora Bowditch, 1821

Suborder Caniformia Kretzoi, 1943

Infraorder Arctoidea Flower, 1869

Order-Group Taxon Mustelida Tedford, 1976

Family Mustelidae Fischer, 1817

Genus Corumictis Paterson, gen. nov.

Type species: Corumictis wolsani Paterson

Included species: Corumictis julieni (Viret, 1929), comb. nov. (Basionym: Plesictis julieni Viret, 1929;

Corumictis wolsani, sp. nov. (described below).

Distribution: Early and Late Oligocene (Early and Late Arikareean, Ar1–Ar3) of Oregon, USA; Early Miocene (MN 2a) of France.

Etymology: From the Latin ad Corum, north-west, referring to the dispersal of mustelids to and from the north-western portion of North America, and the Greek ικτις, ictis, a weasel-like carnivorous animal.

Holotype skull of Corumictis wolsani (JODA 8167) in: A, dorsal; B, lateral; C, ventral views.

Scale bar equals 1 cm. 

ALF = anterior lacerate foramen, MP = mastoid process, NF = nasolabialis fossa, NS = nasal sinuses, OpF = optic foramen, OrF = orbital fissure, SuO = supraorbital processes, TC = temporal crests.

Holotype skull of Corumictis wolsani (JODA 8167) 

Corumictis wolsani Paterson, sp. nov.

Etymology: The epithet is a patronym for Mieczysław Wolsan, who has extensively studied fossil musteloids and worked to reveal their evolutionary history.

Ryan Paterson, Joshua X. Samuels, Natalia Rybczynski, Michael J. Ryan and Hillary C. Maddin. 2020. The Earliest Mustelid in North America. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. zlz091. DOI:  10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz091

twitter.com/DrMichaelJRyan/status/1234924120485376002

Illustration: Henry Sharpe twitter.com/bone_sharpe/status/1234918421680144386

Fossil identified as 'great-grandfather' of wolverines | CBC News 

 cbc.ca/news/technology/fossil-oldest-weasel-1.5474149

gizmodo.co.uk/2020/03/prehistoric-cat-skull-actually-belonged-to-an-ancestor-of-modern-wolverines

[PaleoMammalogy • 2017] Siamogale melilutra • A New Otter of Giant Size (Lutrinae: Mustelidae: Carnivora) from the latest Miocene Shuitangba Site in north-eastern Yunnan, south-western China, and A Total-Evidence Phylogeny of Lutrines

Siamogale melilutra  

Wang, Grohé, Su, White, Ji, Kelley, You & Yang, 2017

cmnh.org  DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2016.1267666 

Abstract

Otters (subfamily Lutrinae) are semi-aquatic predators in the family Mustelidae. Modern otters have a worldwide distribution but their fossil record is poor, often consisting of fragmentary jaws and teeth. Multiple lineages have developed bunodont dentitions with enlargements of molars, usually for cracking molluscs or other hard foods. Some lineages have evolved badger-like teeth and, as a result, were often confused with melines (Old World badger clade). Siamogale thailandica Ginsburg, Invagat, & Tassy, 1983 from the middle Miocene basin of Mae Moh in northern Thailand is one such species, whose fragmentary dental remains have thus far impeded our understanding. A new species of fossil otter, Siamogale melilutra sp. nov., represented by a nearly complete cranium, mandible and partial skeletons of at least three individuals, was recovered from the latest Miocene (∼6.2 Ma) lignite beds of the Shuitangba Site in north-eastern Yunnan Province, south-western China. Computed tomography (CT) restoration of the crushed skull reveals a combination of otter-like and badger-like cranial and dental characteristics. The new species belongs to the Lutrinae because of its possession of a large infraorbital canal and ventral expansion of the mastoid process, among other traits. A distally expanded M1, however, gives a badger-like appearance. In overall morphology the Shuitangba otter is closest to Siamogale thailandica. A previously described jaw (‘Lutra’ aonychoides) from the early Pliocene of the Yushe Basin in north China is also here referred to S. melilutra. No previous attempt has been made to provide a global phylogenetic framework for otters. We present the first combined morphological and molecular (nuclear and mitochondrial DNAs) character matrices of five extant (Pteronura, Lontra, Enhydra, Aonyx, Lutra) and eight extinct genera (Tyrrhenolutra, Paralutra, Paludolutra, Enhydritherium, Siamogale, Vishnuonyx, Sivaonyx, Enhydriodon) to better understand the evolution of bunodont otters. Parsimony and Bayesian analyses consistently recover an eastern Asian clade that includes forms from Shuitangba, Yushe and Mae Moh, all of which are referred to Siamogale.

Keywords: Miocene, fossil otter, lutrine, phylogeny, China, Southeast Asia

Artist's reconstruction of two individuals of Siamogale melilutra sp. nov., one of them feeding on a freshwater clam. The tapir in the background is Tapirus yunnanensis (Ji et al. 2015). Aquatic plants include water chestnut (Typha) and fox nut (Euryale) (Huang et al. 2015), and the low shrub in foreground is Sichuan peppercorn (Zanthoxylum). 

Art by Mauricio Antón.    DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2016.1267666   

Systematic palaeontology

Order Carnivora Bowdich, 1821

Infraorder Arctoidea Flower, 1869

Parvorder Mustelida Tedford, 1976 

Family Mustelidae Fischer de Waldheim, 1817

Subfamily Lutrinae Bonaparte, 1838

Siamogale Ginsburg, Ingavat & Tassy, 1983

Type species: Siamogale thailandica Ginsburg, Ingavat & Tassy, 1983.

Included species: Siamogale thailandica Ginsburg, Ingavat & Tassy, 1983 and Siamogale melilutra sp. nov.

Emended diagnosis: 

Siamogale has typical lutrine cranial and dental morphologies: a large infraorbital canal, presence of antorbital fossa, uninflated bulla, robust and protruding mastoid process, mastoid process separated by a broad shelf from the paroccipital process, postglenoid foramen positioned anteriorly to the auditory meatus, inion positioned anteriorly relative to the lambdoid crest, stylomastoid foramen separated by a bony ridge from the tympanohyal-bulla connection, masseter muscle attachment area ventrally expanded to beyond the ventral rim of the masseteric fossa, parallel zygomatic arches, shortened angular process, premolars with surrounding cingulum, shortening of P4 metastylar blade, presence of a notch between talonid and trigonid of m1, and widening of m1 talonid. Siamogale differs from Paralutra jaegeri by the presence of a distal ridge of m1 metaconid connected to the entoconid crest, M1 cuspule distal to metacone, and absence of P4 metastylar notch. Siamogale differs from Paludolutra, Tyrrhenolutra and Enhydritherium in having a crestiform protocone, lack of hypocone and presence of parastyle on P4, a distolingually expanded M1 talon, and metaconule placed distally to the metacone.

Figure 2. Cranium of Siamogale melilutra sp. nov., ZT-10-03-064b, holotype from Shuitangba. A, right lateral, and B, dorsal views.

 DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2016.1267666    

Figure 1. Location of Shuitangba (late Miocene) in the Zhaotong Basin, Yunnan Province, the Yushe Basin (Pliocene), Shanxi Province, China, and the Mae Moh Basin (middle Miocene), Lampang Province, Thailand.

Topographical map generated by GeoMapApp (version 3.5.1) (Ryan et al. 2009)   DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2016.1267666    

Siamogale melilutra sp. nov.

 Lutra aonychoides Zdansky; Teilhard de Chardin & Leroy: 21, fig. 12.

 Siamogale sp. nov. Jablonski, Su, Flynn, Ji, Deng, Kelley, Zhang, Yin, You, & Yang: table 1, fig. 3D.

Diagnosis: Siamogale melilutra is distinct from S. thailandica in its large size, more posteriorly reclined mandibular ascending ramus, a continuous P4 protocone crest extending distally to the metastyle (in contrast to a more cuspidate P4 protocone in S. thailandica), a relatively less distally expanded M1 lingual cingulum, a more shortened m1, and an m1 metaconid ridge being differentiated into a discrete metastylid.

Figure 4. Digitally restored cranium of Siamogale melilutra sp. nov., ZT-10-03-064b, holotype from Shuitangba, plus a right mandible, IVPP V 23271 (in C only).
 A, ventral, B, dorsal, C, right lateral, D, anterior oblique, E, posterior and F, anterior views. 

Etymology: mēlēs and melis (feminine), Latin, badger; lutra (feminine), Latin, otter; a reference to the mixture of typically lutrine and meline cranial and dental morphology in this species.

Figure 12. Artist's reconstruction of two individuals of Siamogale melilutra sp. nov., one of them feeding on a freshwater clam. The tapir in the background is Tapirus yunnanensis (Ji et al. 2015). Aquatic plants include water chestnut (Typha) and fox nut (Euryale) (Huang et al. 2015), and the low shrub in foreground is Sichuan peppercorn (Zanthoxylum).

Art by Mauricio Antón.    DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2016.1267666  

Xiaoming Wang, Camille Grohé, Denise F. Su, Stuart C. White, Xueping Ji, Jay Kelley, Youshan You and Xin Yang. 2017. A New Otter of Giant Size, Siamogale melilutra sp. nov. (Lutrinae: Mustelidae: Carnivora), from the latest Miocene Shuitangba Site in north-eastern Yunnan, south-western China, and A Total-Evidence Phylogeny of Lutrines.

Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.  DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2016.1267666

ResearchGate.net/publication/312619684_A_new_otter_of_giant_size_Siamogale_melilutra_sp_nov_Lutrinae_Mustelidae_Carnivora_from_the_latest_Miocene_Shuitangba_site_in_north-eastern_Yunnan_south-western_China_and_a_total-evidence_phylogeny_of

NEW ANCIENT OTTER SPECIES AMONG LARGEST EVER FOUND

https://www.cmnh.org/announcements/ancient-otter

Scientists discover 6-million-year-old giant otter fossil in China's Yun... https://eurekalert.org/e/7grc via @EurekAlert

New ancient otter species among largest ever found http://phy.so/404393506 via @physorg_com