Zorillas (Carnivora, Mustelidae, Ictonychini) from the Villafranchian of Bulgaria with a description of a new species of Baranogale Kormos, 1934

Vormela petenyii Kretzoi, 1942 and Baranogale balcanica n. sp., the Ictonychini species from the Villafranchian locality of Varshets, Bulgaria (first half of the MNQ17 zone), which includes a total of 18 macromammalian species, are concerned. The fossils of V. petenyii (the earliest Vormela species), from Varshets, are among the very few known, and probably the oldest sure remains of this taxon. B. balcanica n. sp. differs from B. helbingi Kormos, 1934 mainly by its much smaller dimensions and by the combination of a reduced pm2 and the plesiomorphic condition of the pm4 and m2.