Eoproviverra eisenmanni, (GODINOT, 1981), 2014

Solé, Floréal, Falconnet, Jocelyn & Yves, Laurent, 2014, New proviverrines (Hyaenodontida) from the early Eocene of Europe; phylogeny and ecological evolution of the Proviverrinae, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 171 (4), pp. 878-917 : 899-900

EOPROVIVERRA EISENMANNI ( GODINOT, 1981)

COMB. NOV.

Diagnosis

Eoproviverra eisenmanni differs from other proviverrines (except Parvagula ) in its smaller size, larger metaconid and narrower talonid on molars, and paracone taller than metacone (plesiomorphic features). It also differs from Parvagula , Boritia , and Morlodon in having a more mesially located paraconid (an apomorphic feature). It differs from Oxyaenoides and Matthodon in having a more bulbous entoconid (a plesiomorphic feature).

Chresonymy

1981: Proviverra eisenmanni in Godinot, pp. 64–67, fig. 8, pl. II 12, 14–17.

Holotype

MNHN.F.RI400, LM 2?.

Type locality

MP7, Rians ( France).

Referred specimens

MNHN.F.RI401, LM 1; MNHN.F.RI362, LM 2;

MNHN.F.RI203, RM 3; MNHN.F.RI204, right mandible bearing M 1 and M 2.

Measurements

See Godinot (1981). Description

The specimens referred to this species were described by Godinot (1981).

Discussion

Godinot (1981) erected Proviverra eisenmanni for specimens found in the French locality of Rians – this locality is dated to the earliest Eocene of France. He referred the specimens to the genus Proviverra , which is considered to be one of the most primitive hyaenodontidans and so of the proviverrines ( Polly, 1996), based on overall similarity. However, he noted that these specimens differ only from those of the type species, Proviverra typica (Middle Eocene) . In fact, the Early Eocene specimens differ in having a narrower talonid, less mesiodistally compressed trigonid, and less developed cingulids on the molars, more labially located parastyle, and paraconule more separated from the paracone on M 1, less separated paracone and metacone, larger stylar shelf on the molars and less developed cingulae on the molars. Consequently, the two taxa differ in numerous features, as noted by Morlo & Habersetzer (1999) and Solé (2013), and the Early Eocene species does not show the typical features of Proviverra typica . Except for the mesiodistal extension of the trigonid, the features of the taxon from Rians are plesiomorphic amongst proviverrines.

Owing to the numerous differences, we erect a new genus, Eoproviverra gen. nov., for the Rians species.