New omomyoids (Euprimates, Mammalia) from the late Uintan of southern California, USA, and the question of the extinction of the Paromomyidae (Plesiadapiformes, Primates)
Author
López-Torres, Sergi
Author
Silcox, Mary T.
Author
Holroyd, Patricia A.
text
Palaeontologia Electronica
2018
37 A
2018-09-30
21
3
1
28
http://dx.doi.org/10.26879/756
journal article
10.26879/756
1094-8074
11062937
5EE56527-5F98-4724-8120-18F7471BB497
Genus
WALSHINA
gen. nov.
Figures 4.1-4.4
,
5.1-5.11
,
6.1-6.19
zoobank.org/
5F051939-CD72-4EBC-8BBC-3E6B637DC806
1968
Phenacolemur
(Matthew, 1915)
; Robinson, p. 324
1976
Ignacius
(Matthew and Granger, 1921)
; Bown and Rose, p. 112 (in part)
1978
Phenacolemur
(Matthew, 1915)
; Krishtalka, p. 338, fig. 2-4
1990
Phenacolemur
(Matthew, 1915)
; Mason, p. 2, fig. 2
1991a cf.
Phenacolemur
(Matthew, 1915)
; Walsh, p. 166, table 1
1996
Phenacolemur
(Matthew, 1915)
; Walsh, p. 85, table 2
Type
species.
Walshina esmaraldensis
gen. et sp.
nov.
Included species.
Type
species,
Walshina
mcgrewi
comb. nov.
(=
I. mcgrewi
Robinson
, 1968), and
Walshina shifrae
comb. nov.
(=
Ph.
shifrae
Krishtalka, 1978
).
Distribution.
Uintan and Duchesnean of Wyoming, and Uintan of
California
.
Etymology.
In memory of Stephen L. Walsh of the San Diego Museum of Natural History, in recognition of his work on the San Diego County faunas.
Diagnosis.
Paracristid of M
1
relatively long as in
Trogolemur
and
Sphacorhysis
, but paraconid less clearly distinct from the paracristid. Differs from
Sphacorhysis
(but not
Trogolemur
) in having lower molar talonid basins that are relatively deep with smooth enamel. Differs from
Trogolemur
(but not
Sphacorhysis
) in that the cristid obliqua of M
1
contacts the postvallid distal to the protoconid rather than between the protoconid and metaconid. Unlike the other trogolemurins, M
1
and M
2
of
Walshina
gen. nov.
have strong hypoconulids with distinct foveae located below and buccal to the hypoconulid. As in
Sphacorhysis
, the distal aspect of M
1
and M
2
is convex, whereas in
Trogolemur
it is concave. M
3
hypoconulid narrower than in other trogolemurins. M
3
trigonid significantly taller than in
Sphacorhysis
(but not
Trogolemur
). Like
Sphacorhysis
, lower molar entocristids form a rounded contour (i.e., forming a U-shaped entocristid) in lingual view, in contrast to the V-shaped entocristid in
Trogolemur
. Further differs from
Trogolemur
and
Sphacorhysis
in having much weaker buccal cingulids. Notably stronger precingulum on M
2
than in
Trogolemur
. Protocone lingual expansion on the upper molars not as pronounced as in
Trogolemur
. Compared to
Trogolemur
, mesial aspect of M
3
straighter, and the lingual border of that tooth much shorter mesiodistally relative to its buccal border.
Discussion.
All trogolemurins share a distally expanded distolingual basin of the upper molars (particularly marked in
W. mcgrewi
comb. nov.
), which is quite similar to that observed in paromomyid plesiadapiforms. This similarity is likely one reason why some members of
Walshina
gen. nov.
have previously been considered paromomyids. However, in other ways the morphology of trogolemurins is inconsistent with that of paromomyids, including the presence of paraconids on M
3
.
Walshina
gen. nov.
remains quite poorly known, with the only record being isolated upper and lower molars. One likely reason for this limited record is that the genus includes the smallest North American omomyoids (see below).