Megalictis ferox, AND

Andersson, Ki, 2004, Elbow-joint morphology as a guide to forearm function and foraging behaviour in mammalian carnivores, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 142 (1), pp. 91-104 : 104

MEGALICTIS FEROX AND EKORUS EKAKERAN

Megalictis ferox Matthew, 1907 is known from the Late Oligocene–Early Miocene of North America. The general morphology appears to be that of an upscaled wolverine, ‘Limbs short and stout, feet plantigrade, short and spreading... phalanges short, claws large, non retractile little curved and not compressed...’ (Matthew, 1907: 196). Hunt & Skolnick (1996) joined the three genera Megalictis Matthew, 1907 , Aelurocyon Peterson, 1907 and Paroligobunis Peterson, 1910 under Megalictis , which has priority. The taxonomic history of M. ferox is given in greater detail by Hunt & Skolnick (1996). The 19 individuals referred to the taxon exhibit a vast size range. An estimation of the body mass of M. ferox , using the measurements of the first lower molar provided by Hunt & Skolnick (1996) and the predictive equation of Van Valkenburgh (1990), indicates a range of about 20–60 kg.

Three specimens are included in the present study. (i) AMNH 12881 - vertebrae, limbs and footbones. Referred to M. ferox by Matthew (1907). Found in the Upper Rosebud formation (Early Miocene). (ii) FMNH P12154 - Known from a skull, part of the mandible, vertebrae, limbs and foot bones. Originally referred to Aelurocyon brevifacies by Riggs (1945). From the Upper Harrison Formation (Early Miocene). (iii) FMNH P12135 - Humerus, femur, partial ulna and vertebrae. Originally referred to M. ferox by Riggs (1945). Exact origin unknown, ‘found in a small residual deposit of the Upper Harrison beds...’ (Riggs, 1945: 95), but is likely to have originated from the Upper Harrison Formation.

Ekorus ekakeran Werdelin, 2003 , is known from a near complete skeleton, KNM-LT 23125, from Lothagam, a locality of Late Miocene age (Leakey et al., 1996). The specimen is housed in the Kenya National Museums (KNM), Nairobi, Kenya. Ekorus ekakeran is dentally highly derived and feloid-like. The limbs are relatively long, c. 20% longer than those of M. ferox . The feet are short and stout. Use of the predictive equation of Van Valkenburgh (1990) gives a body mass of the single individual of Ekorus ekakeran of about 40 kg.