Hoplitomeryx kriegsmani, Van Der Geer, Alexandra A. E., 2014

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 : 26

Hoplitomeryx kriegsmani sp. nov.

Fig. 7 J–M

Hoplitomeryx Leinders, 1984 , size 4—Van der Geer 2005: p. 331, 332; Van der Geer 2008: p. 153, 154, fig. 4, 5. Hoplitomeryx Leinders, 1984 , size 3—Van der Geer 2005 (partim): p. 331 [RGM 178.516].

Holotype. Left metacarpal RGM 178.516.

Paratypes. Humerus fragment (trochanter major ) RGM 425.254, anterior first phalanx RGM 178.503 ( Fig. 5 C, D), anterior second phalanges RGM 260.876, RGM 425.259, RGM 260.875 and RGM 260.862, metacarpal fragment RGM 425.322, tibia RGM 335.882+425.328 ( Fig. 6 A), third cervical vertebra RGM 425.311.

Referred specimens. See Appendix III, and fig. 6C.

Diagnosis. A very large-sized, very slender hoplitomerycid. Estimated body mass is 103.4 kg. The tibia has a straight shaft. The trochlea of the astragal is non-parallel sided.

Differential diagnosis. Larger and more slender than all other hoplitomerycid species. About five times the body mass of the smallest species, Hoplitomeryx devosi . The tibia has a straight shaft, unlike the other hoplitomerycid species. Metacarpal length is three times the metacarpal length of H. devosi and one and half times that of H. macpheei .

Derivation of name. Named after Leo Kriegsman of Naturalis Biodiversity Center, head of the Department of Geology, for his support of and interest in the study of the evolution of vertebrates on islands.

Preservation and deposition. Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden ( the Netherlands) (formerly Rijksmuseum van Geologie en Mineralogie (RGM)).

Type locality and horizon. Late Miocene (Middle or Late Turolian, MN12-13) fissure filling with code San Giovannino in an abandoned limestone quarry near the farm of San Giovannino south of the provincial road between Poggio Imperiale and Apricena (Province of Foggia, Apulia, Italy).

Studied localities. Fissure fillings with codes Chirò 2, 2N, 7a, 4, 32 and D1, Falcone 2B, Nazario 2B and 4, Pizzicoli 1, 2 and 12, San Giovannino. All localities are located in the north-western portion of the Gargano Peninsula, Apulia, south-eastern Italy. Probable other locality: fissure filling with code Chirò 31 in the limestone quarry Chirò along the provincial road between Poggio Imperiale and Lessina (Province of Foggia, Apulia, Italy).

Description of holotype. RGM 178.516 is an incomplete ruminant metacarpal. It lacks the lower distal part and the proximal articulation above the point where the internal and external tubercle on the mid-palmar groove meet. The distal end includes the complete distal nutritional foramen within the palmar groove. The palmar groove for the M. interosseus palmaris is only present proximally. The sideward and backward bending of the specimen is a post-mortem defect.

Measurements. Holotype: maximal length = 190 mm, proximal depth (DAPP) = 17.5 mm, proximal width (DTP) = 30.1 mm. Distal depth (DAPD) and distal width (DTD) cannot be estimated for the holotype, but are available from referred specimen RGM 263.945: DAPD = 22,1 mm, DTD = 36.6 mm. For measurements of all referred specimens, see Appendix III (linear measurements) and Appendix I and II (body mass estimations).

Remarks. The holotype might be subadult. A couple of very large juvenile referred specimens (see Appendix III) have a similar size and likely represent subadult stages of this species as well. There is not sufficient information available on the ontogeny of Hoplitomeryx , especially the extend of its growing period, to assign these juveniles to an even larger species. Leinders (1984) already indicated the presence of (very) large, juvenile skull fragments (e.g. RGM 260.933, ear region type III). These skull fragments can, however, not be properly assigned to either this size or to H. macpheei due to the very fragmentated nature of the cranial material. Tibia RGM 335.882+425.328 might belong to the same individual as astragal RGM 260.863. The largest specimens of Hoplitomeryx have about twice the body mass of the largest Scontromeryx .

Figures

FIGURE 5. Postcranial elements of Hoplitomeryx. A, first posterior phalanx (RGM 425.269; San Giovannino) showing a deerlike morphology: abaxial view; B, same specimen, showing triangular sesamoid facets but no ligament attachment areas: volar view; C, first anterior phalanx (RGM 178.503; San Giovannino): abaxial view; D, same specimen, showing pronounced ligament attachments in the form of ridges but no sesamoid facet: volar view; E, posterior second phalanx (RGM 261.251; San Giovannino): abaxial view; F, anterior second phalanx (RGM 260.937; San Giovannino): axial view; G, third phalanx (RGM 178.683; Trefossi 2 A): abaxial view; H, third phalanx (RGM 260.877; San Giovannino): axial view; I, third phalanx (RGM 261.531; Nazario 4): abaxial view; J, third phalanx (RGM 425.386; Falcone 2 B); K, right femur (RGM 425.314; San Giovannino): anterior view; L, left femur (RGM 425.207; Nazario 4): anterior view; M, right femur (RGM 425.245; San Giovannino): anterior view; N, left patella (RGM 425.246; San Giovannino): anterior (dorsal) view; O, same specimen: lateral view; P, same specimen, showing the hook-like extension at the medial side: inner view.

FIGURE 6. Postcranial elements of Hoplitomeryx. A, left tibia (RGM 335.882 + 425.328; San Giovannino): medial view; B, right tibia (RGM 425.144; Chiro D 1): anterior view. Astragals of different size in anterior (dorsal) view: C, left astragal (RGM 425.385; Falcone 2 B); D, left astragal (RGM 260.863; San Giovannino); E, right astragal (RGM 425.421; Fina N). F, left astragal (RGM 263.951; Gargano, unknown fissure): lateral view; G, left calcaneum (RGM 260.901; San Giovannino): anterior view; H, same specimen: posterior view; I, same specimen: medial view; J,; K, detail of distal right metatarsal (RGM 178.518; San Giovannino) showing the proximal extension of the dorsal gully into the (fused) cubonavicular.

FIGURE 7. Holotypes of three new Hoplitomeryx species from Gargano, South Italy (Late Miocene; Middle or Late Turolian, MN 12 - 13). A – E Hoplitomeryx devosi sp. n., left metacarpal RGM 178.517; F – I Hoplitomeryx macpheei sp. n., left metacarpal RGM 260.918; J – M Hoplitomeryx kriegsmani sp. n., left metacarpal RGM 178.516. A, F, J proximal view. B, G, K dorsal view. C, H, L palmar view. D, I, M medial view. E distal view. Note that the sideward and backward bending of RGM 178.516 is a post-mortem defect.