Phylogeny of early Tertiary Carnivora : with a description of a new species of Protictis from the Middle Eocene of northwestern Wyoming. American Museum novitates ; no. 2725
Year: 1982
Type: article
Abstract: Since Cope erected the Miacidae in 1880, all early Tertiary carnivorans have generally been grouped in this family because of their overall primitive morphology.A historical review of the classifications and definitions of the Miacidae is provided.Discovery of a new subgenus of Pro- tictis from the Uintan (mid Eocene) of north- western Wyoming led to a reevaluation of the phylogeny of the Carnivora.The Miacidae (Mia- coidea), as previously constructed, is a paraphy- letic assemblage of all the early Tertiary Carnivora.Phylogenetic analysis of the distribution of cranial, dental, and postcranial morphology indi- cates that the bipartite division recognized in liv- ing Carnivora may be traced to the earliest Ter- tiary representatives of this order.Most taxa previously included in the "Viverravinae" ("Miacidae") are members of the Feliformia and those placed in the "Miacinae" ("Miacidae") are Can- iformia.Diagnoses and discussions are provided for the suprageneric taxa Carnivora, Feliformia, Caniformia, Didymictidae (Didymictida) (new), Aeluroida (new), Feloidea, and Viverravidae.Protictis, including the subgenera P. (Protictis), P. (Bryanictis), and P. (Protictoides) (new), is diagnosed and discussed.Simpsonictis is consid- ered a valid genus and is allied with Viverravus in the Viverravidae (Aeluroida, Feliformia).Pa- laeogale is removed from the Mustelidae (Cani- formia) and is considered a close relative of the Viverravidae.Ictidopappus is placed incertae sedis within the Aeluroida."Plesiomiacis" and Quercygale, which were previously considered members of the "Viverravinae," are considered members of the Caniformia.The sabretoothed "ipaleofelid" Nimravidae are excluded from the Feloidea (Aeluroida, Feliformia) and are included instead within the Caniformia.A summary of the proposed phylogeny and a classification of the Carnivora are presented.
Source: American Museum Novitates
Authors: John J. Flynn, Henry Galiano
Language: English
Subfield: Paleontology
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1891844361