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Carnivora from the early Oligocene of the 'Phosphorites du Quercy' in southwestern France

Louis de BONIS, Axelle GARDIN & Cécile BLONDEL

en Geodiversitas 41 (15) - Pages 601-621

Published on 10 September 2019

This article is a part of the thematic issue Memorial to Stéphane Peigné – Carnivores (Hyaenodonta and Carnivora) of the Cenozoic

The early Oligocene carnivorans from the Quercy phosphorites (southwestern France) studied herein come from three localities: Mas de Got, La Plante2 and Valbro, all in MP 22 of the European Paleogene Mammal stratigraphy scheme. These localities contain a rich carnivoran fauna with weasel-sized to tiger-sized species in diverse families, especially Amphicynodontidae (with four species of Pachycynodon and two of Amphicynodon) and Nimravidae. New taxa are described (Wangictis n. gen., Peignictis pseudamphictis n. gen., n. sp.). We note the absence of taxa often present in the sites of the Quercy phosphorites, such as the family Amphicyonidae and, in the Feloidea, the genera Stenoplesictis Filhol, 1880 and Palaeoprionodon Filhol, 1880. The fauna of the three localities is typical of the early Oligocene prior to a faunal turnover in the middle Oligocene. Future research in the Quercy will give more precision to the timing and mode of this faunal event.


Keywords:

Caniformia, Feliformia, Amphicynodontidae, Ursidae, Mustelidae, Nimravidae, sabre-toothed carnivorans, Paleogene, MP 22, lectotypification, new combination, new genera, new species

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