Simocyon batalleri ( Viret, 1929 )

Peigné, Stéphane, Salesa, Manuel J., Antón, Mauricio & Morales, Jorge, 2005, Ailurid carnivoran mammal Simocyon from the late Miocene of Spain and the systematics of the genus, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 50 (2), pp. 219-238 : 220-222

Simocyon batalleri ( Viret, 1929)

Figs. 1–11 ; Tables 1–8.

Cephalogale batalleri ; Viret 1929: 565, pl. 8: 1, 2. pars Simocyon sp. ; Fraile et al. 1997: table 1. Simocyon sp. ; Morales et al. 2000: 186. Simocyon sp. ; Antón and Morales 2000: 190–193. Simocyon sp. ; Salesa and Fraile 2000: 253, fig. 2.140.

Holotype: MSB 24933 , fragment of right maxilla with P4–M2 ( Viret 1929: pl. 8: 1, 2).

Type locality: Sabadell, Barcelona Province, Spain.

Referred material from Batallones−1.— MNCN B−3620, nearly complete skull with left P2, P4–M1 and right P1–P2, P4–M1; MNCN B−3392 and MNCN Bat−1−D 7−7−2001 left preglenoid process zygomatic arch and right hemimandibles from the same individual with p1–m1 ; MNCN B−386, right C1; MNCN B−3235, left M2; MNCN B−4337, right c1; MNCN B−4733, left m2; MNCN B−3238, right m2. MNCN B−3458, nearly complete skull with left P2–M1 and right P1–P2, P4–M1; MNCN B−5430,

fragmentary right hemimandible with worn dentition: p2, p4–m2; MNCN B−1890, left C1; MNCN B−5431, right C1; MNCN B−1721, left c1. All specimens are from Batallones−1 and housed in the palaeontological collection of the MNCN.

Our study suggests that the material from Batallones−1 represents two individuals, which, from the dental wear, clearly differ in individual age. The older specimen shows marked dental wear and is slightly smaller than the other one; it is composed of the specimens MNCN B−3458, MNCN B−5430, MNCN B−1890, MNCN B−5431, and MNCN B−1721. The second specimen, a young adult, consists of all remaining specimens: MNCN B−3620, MNCN B−3392, MNCN Bat−1−D 7−7−2001, MNCN B−386, MNCN B−3235, MNCN B−4337, MNCN B−4733, and MNCN B−3238. Postcranial remains are associated with the craniodental materials from Batallones−1. Because we here mainly focus on the systematics rather than on the functional morphology and locomotor adaptations of Simocyon , the postcranial material will be treated in another paper .

Distribution and age.— Spain only: Sabadell, Vallesian, late Miocene; Batallones−1, Mammal Zone MN 10, late Vallesian, late Miocene.

Differential diagnosis.— Simocyon batalleri differs from S. diaphorus ( Kaup, 1832) in having a more reduced p3; from S. primigenius ( Roth and Wagner, 1854) in having a less reduced p3 and a mandible with coronoid process less developed anteroposteriorly, more posteriorly oriented, postmolar space longer, angular process longer and ventrodorsally flattened, mandibular condyle lower relative to the occlusal plane.

Figures

Fig. 1. Simocyon batalleri (Viret, 1929), MNCN B−3620, Batallones−1, Madrid Province, Spain, cranium in ventral view. A. Photograph. B. Schematic drawing showing the main anatomical features of this view (artwork by M. Antón).

Fig. 2. Simocyon batalleri, MNCN B−3458, Batallones−1, Madrid Province, Spain, cranium in dorsal view. A. Photo. B. Schematic drawing showing the main anatomical features of this view (artwork by M. Antón).

Fig. 4. Simocyon batalleri, Batallones−1, Madrid Province, Spain. A. MNCN B−386, right upper canine in, lingual (A1) and buccal (A2) views. B. MNCN B−4337, right lower canine in lingual (B1) and buccal (B2) views.