Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 39(1) 1996

Issue:

VOL 39(1) 1996

Keywords:

Systematics, Mustelinae, Peruniinae, Eomellivora, Perunium, Miocene, Europe, Asia, North America

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A revision of the late Miocene mustelid carnivoran Eomellivora

• Mieczysław WOLSAN
• Yuriy A. SEMENOV

Abstract:

A taxonomic revision of the mustelid carnivoran genus Eomellivora ZDANSKY,1924 (=Perunium ORLOV, 1947) is carried out. The genus is removed to the subfamily Mustelinae FISCHER VON WALDHEIM, 1817 (=Peruniinae ORLOV, 1947). It consists of the single lineage or species Eomellivora wimani ZDANSKY, 1924 that evolved during the Late Miocene in Eurasia and North America. The characteristic feature in the evolution of this species was a progressive anteroposterior shortening and buccolingual broadening of the upper canines and the upper and lower premolars, as well as an increase in the massiveness of the lower canines, associated with a gradual augmentation in the number and size of the secondary cusps on the premolars. The species comprised the primitive Vallesian (early Late Miocene) chronosubspecies Eomellivora wimani piveteaui OZANSOY, 1965 known from Europe and the derived Turolian, Baodean, and Hemphillian (late Late Miocene) chronosubspecies Eomellivora wimani wimani ZDANSKY, 1924 occurring in Europe, Asia, and North America. The synonymy of Eomellivora wimani piveteaui includes Eomellivora liguritor CRUSAFONT PAIRÓ & GINSBURG, 1973, whereas that of Eomellivora wimani wimani contains Eomellivora californica KRETZOI, 1942, Eomellivora hungarica hungarica KRETZOI, 1942, Eomellivora hungarica altera KRETZOI, 1942, Perunium ursogulo ORLOV, 1947, Eomellivora rumana ORLOV, 1947, and Eomellivora orlovi KRETZOI, 1965. The species ‘Eomellivora ’ necrophila PILGRIM, 1932 and ‘Eomellivora ’ tenebrarum PILGRIM, 1932 are excluded from the genus Eomellivora.