Exiguodon pilgrimi ( SAVAGE , 1965)

Morales, Jorge & Pickford, Martin, 2017, New Hyaenodonts (Ferae, Mammalia) From The Early Miocene Of Napak (Uganda), Koru (Kenya) And Grillental (Namibia), Fossil Imprint 73 (3 - 4), pp. 332-359 : 346-347

Exiguodon pilgrimi ( SAVAGE, 1965)

Pls 5, 6

1965 Hyaenodon (Isohyaenodon) pilgrimi ; Savage, p. 284 1998 Isohyaenodon pilgrimi Savage ; Morales et al., p. 636. 2007 Isohyaenodon pilgrimi Savage ; Morales et al., p. 72. 2010 Isohyaenodon pilgrimi Savage ; Lewis and Morlo, p.

548.

H o l o t y p e. Mandible with both rami and part of the neurocranium attached to the seven cervical vertebrae (NHMUK M 19100a-c; Pl. 5).

T y p e l o c a l i t y. Site R 114, (Whitworth’s Pothole),

Rusinga Island, Kenya.

A g e. Early Miocene.

D i a g n o s i s. The same as for the genus.

O t h e r l o c a l i t i e s. Songhor and Koru, Kenya and

Napak IV, Uganda.

D e s c r i p t i o n o f K o r u f o s s i l s.KO 38’04 (Pl. 6, Fig. 1) is a right mandible with m3 (L = 4.7 mm, W = 2.3 mm) and m2 (L = 4.4 mm, W = 2 mm). In the m3 the paraconid and protoconid are robust, sub-equal in size and morphology. The paraconid is located in quite a lingual position, such that the molar appears to be inclined with respect to the antero-posterior axis of the dental series. There is no sign of a metaconid, and the talonid is reduced to a small tubercle at the base of the crown in a posterior-lingual position. The notch that separates the paraconid from the protoconid is deep. In the paraconid a basal vertical tubercle develops on the antero-buccal surface that serves to lodge the talonid of the m2. The buccal surface shows a vertical wear facet, while lingually a deep valley is developed at the base of the paraconid-protoconid. The m2 is somewhat worn anteriorly, and is smaller than the m3, although its morphology is similar. The talonid is quite well-developed and possesses a small sharp hypoconid.