Felidae from Cooper’s Cave, South Africa (Mammalia: Carnivora)
Author
O’Regan, Hannah J.
Author
Steininger, Christine
text
Geodiversitas
2017
2017-06-30
39
2
315
332
http://dx.doi.org/10.5252/g2017n2a8
journal article
10.5252/g2017n2a8
1638-9395
5206125
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:36D6C5E9-8632-41E2-88F0-D470B3DEA72C
Acinonyx jubatus
(
Schreber, 1775
)
MATERIAL EXAMINED. —
Craniodental
. CD 3871, left P4 (
Fig. 5H, I
;
Table 1
); CD 9614 left I3.
DIAGNOSIS AND DISCUSSION
CD 3871 is an almost complete P4, just lacking the mesial border of the protocone.Despite this it can be seen that the protocone was much reduced in comparison with the pantherines. The ectoparastyle is very large, in contrast to
Megantereon
where there is no ectoparastyle (
Christiansen & Adolfssen 2007
; KA 64 pers. obs.). Other than the protocone being slightly more anteriorly placed in CD 3871 it is a very good match for the modern cheetah. The isolated lower incisor CD 9614 has a clear accessory cusp on the buccal surface and is a robust tooth with a relatively short crown. Other than the slight difference in the protocone position on the P4, the Cooper’s D specimens match those of the modern cheetah, and are referred to this species.