Scontromeryx sp.

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 : 21

Scontromeryx sp. indet.

Hoplitomeryx sp. Leinders, 1984 — Mazza & Rustioni 2011: p. 1326.

Material. Horn cores SCT10, SCT28, SCT4, SCT213, SCT11 and an uncatalogued specimen.

Preservation and deposition. Soprintendenza Archeologica dell’Abruzzo (Chieti, central Italy).

Locality and horizon. Tortonian Scontrone Member of the Lithothamnium Limestone ( Patacca et al. 2008; 41°45'15.54''N, 14°02'13.14''E), outskirts of Scontrone, southern border of the National Park of Abruzzi, L’Aquila, central Italy.

Description. SCT10 and SCT28 are described ( Mazza & Rustioni 2011) as type I nasal horn cores, SCT4 and SCT213 as type II nasal horn cores and SCT11 and a not-catalogued specimen as type V orbital horn cores. Only SCT213 and SCT28 are figured ( Fig. 6 , I–K). The nasal horn cores lack the typical continuation of the septum nasi in the basal part of the horn as can be seen in their fig. 6 and can therefore not reliably diagnosed as being nasal horn cores. The isolated orbital horn cores (type V: SCT11 and an uncatalogued specimen) do not fit Leinders’ (1984) description either. One of them has been depicted in Rustioni et al. (1992) and is too large to fit Leinders’ (1984) horn core type V and differs morphologically from the other horn core types. The isolated orbital horn cores also differ from those in skull SCT17 ( S. mazzai ). The isolated horn cores cannot be associated to any of the described species and could be distal parts of either horn cores, antlers or proto-antlers.

Figures

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.