Scontromeryx minutus ( Mazza et Rustioni, 2011 )

Van Der Geer, Alexandra A. E., 2014, Systematic revision of the family Hoplitomerycidae Leinders, 1984 (Artiodactyla: Cervoidea), with the description of a new genus and four new species, Zootaxa 3847 (1), pp. 1-32 : 15

Scontromeryx minutus ( Mazza et Rustioni, 2011)

Taxon A—Mazza & Rustioni 1999 (partim): p. 306, fig. 1, 2 [SCT60, SCT73, SCT77, SCT155]. Hoplitomeryx minutus Mazza & Rustioni, 2011 — Mazza & Rustioni 2011 (partim): p. 1304, 1306, 1330, fig. 1, 5, tables 1, 2 [SCT60, SCT73, SCT77, SCT78, SCT155].

Holotype. Right hemimandible SCT77 (figure 1, A, B, C, in Mazza & Rustioni, 2011).

Paratypes. Mandible fragments SCT60, SCT73, SCT78, SCT155.

Original diagnosis. See Mazza & Rustioni (2011)

Revised diagnosis. Small species with brachyodont dentition. Mandible with a slender and sinuous horizontal ramus and uniformly convex ventral profile; cheek teeth formula 3–3; lower premolars very small with rudimentary paraconid, robust and high metaconid and strong entoconid; lower molars with widely spaced, triangular labial conids, flattened mesial enamel walls, isolated hypoconid, even in heavily worn teeth, strong metastylids, postentocristids, and ectostylids; distal margin of hypoconulid separated from entoconulid towards the occlusal edge of the crown and fused with it towards the collar; lingual enamel wall smooth, labial enamel wall moderately rugose; molars with cingulum on the mesiolabial base of protoconids.

Derivation of name. The name refers to the small dimensions of the species ( Mazza & Rustioni 2011).

Preservation and deposition. Soprintendenza Archeologica dell’Abruzzo (Chieti, central Italy).

Type locality and horizon. Tortonian Scontrone Member of the Lithothamnium Limestone ( Patacca et al. 2008; 41°45'15.54''N, 14°02' 13.14''E), outskirts of Scontrone, southern border of the National Park of Abruzzi, L’Aquila, central Italy.

Description. See Mazza & Rustioni (2011).

Additional characters shown by paratypes revised after Mazza & Rustioni (2011). The paratypes consist of fragmentary mandibles, preserving various elements or their alveoles: SCT73 (p4, m1 fragment, alveoles p2-p3), SCT60 (p3–m3), SCT78 (unknown) and SCT155 (p2–m3). Horizontal ramus tapers gradually rostrally. Lower premolar to molar ratio p2–p4/m1–m3 = 0.48. Very thin film of cementum-like veneer occasionally present in labial valleys of lower molars. p3–p4. Parastylid well developed, paraconid rudimentary and present only in barely worn teeth, otherwise totally absent; metaconid robust, very salient, exceeding in height the cupsids of all lower premolars, and in contact with protoconid. Entoconid well developed and protruding lingually. Entostylid also well developed. Lingual enamel wall smooth. m1 Tightly in contact with fourth premolar. External rib of metaconid and entoconid strong, metastylid and postentocristid also quite robust. Robust ectostylid. Mesiolabial cingulum variously developed and at times supporting tiny cuspule. m2. Labial cuspids widely separated from one another with low, blunt ectostylid in between. m3. Low, pillar-like enamel structure sometimes present where distal margins of hypo- and entoconulid meet.

Measurements. See Table 2 .