The Miacidae (Mammalia, Carnivora). Part 1, The systematics of Ictidopappus and Protictis. Bulletin of the AMNH ; v. 131, article 2
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Date
1966
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New York : [American Museum of Natural History]
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Abstract
"Viverravine miacids have been found in all the larger collections of fossil mammals from the middle and late Paleocene rocks of North America. These oldest-known fissipede carnivores are described in detail, the classification is revised, and notes on their probable ecology and known geographic and stratigraphic distribution are included. A list of characters believed primitive for miacids is presented, together with some discussion of possible miacid ancestry. Two genera, Ictidopappus Simpson, 1935, and Protictis Matthew, 1937, are recognized, the latter being raised in rank and including P. (Protictis) Matthew, 1937, P. (Simpsonictis) Mac Intyre, 1962, and a new subgenus, P. (Bryanictis), which unites P. (B.) microlestes (Simpson, 1935) and a new species P. (B.) vanvaleni. The removal of Protictis from Didymictis is discussed; both the Eocene viverravine genera (Viverravus and Didymictis) were derived from Protictis. Several probably new (but unnamed) Paleocene Viverravinae are also described, including a single tooth from the Puerco beds of New Mexico which may represent the oldest known miacid. This specimen (called Puerco-Z informally) is tentatively referred to Ictidopappus. If this assignment is correct, Ictidopappus ranged from northern New Mexico (about latitude 36 N.) to southern Montana (about latitude 46 N.) and from early to middle Paleocene time. The middle Paleocene Protictis (Protictis) and P. (Bryanictis) have been found over the same range and P. (Simpsonictis) occurs from southern Montana to central Wyoming. The possible miacid relationships to the earliest creodonts and leptictid insectivores recently collected in the late Cretaceous of North America are considered, but, as it is impossible to derive the known Miacinae is from any known Paleocene Viverravinae, derivation of the Miacidae from any known American Cretaceous genus is rejected"--P. 206.
Description
p. 117-209, 20 p. of plates : ill., map ; 27 cm.
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 207-209).
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 207-209).
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