A new early Late Oligocene (MP 26) continental vertebrate fauna from Saint-Privat-des-Vieux (Alès Basin, Gard, Southern France)
Author
Vianey-Liaud, Monique
Author
Comte, Bernard
Author
Marandat, Bernard
Author
Peigné, Stéphane
Author
Rage, Jean-Claude
Author
Sudre, Jean
text
Geodiversitas
2014
2014-12-26
36
4
565
622
http://dx.doi.org/10.5252/g2014n4a4
journal article
6390
10.5252/g2014n4a4
8bc26961-9853-4113-a63d-4cf691aa7100
1638-9395
4538625
cf.
Palaeogale
sp.
MATERIAL
AND
MEASUREMENTS (in mm). — Probably a left p3 missing its mesial base,
SPV
620 (L of the preserved fragment
=
2.58; w =1.25; L/w = 2.06; Ht
=
2.14 mm
).
DESCRIPTION
Ŋe crown is narrow and nearly symmetrical. Ŋere is a small accessory cuspid located labially at the distal basis of the main cuspid. Ŋe talonid is elongated, tapers backward and displays a low, longitudinal, medially-located crest.
COMPARISON AND DISCUSSION
Although fragmentary, this premolar cannot be assigned to
hvereutherium
thylacodes
. It differs from the premolars, and especially from p3, of this hyaenodont in lacking a cingulid and in having an elongated talonid. Although the p3 of
hvereutherium
thylacodes
is similar in length and in heigth (L
=
2.64-2.97 for N = 8; Ht = 1.81-2.40 for N = 7), it is proportionally wider (width = 1.42-1.65 for N = 8; L/w = 1.77-1.93). If this tooth really is a p3, it belongs to an animal of approximately the size of the smallest species of the genus
Palaeogale
von Meyer, 1846
, such as
P. felina
(
Filhol 1877
)
. It differs in some details such as a less asymmetrical crown, less trenchant crests and the basal position of the distal accessory cuspid. Ŋe specimen from Saint-Privat-des-Vieux resembles more the p3 of larger, geologically younger species of
Palaeogale
, such as
P. praehyaenoides
Morlo, 1996
, of the early Miocene from the Mainz Basin (
Germany
;
Morlo 1996
). However, the assignment of the specimen of Saint-Privat-des-Vieux remains uncertain pending further material is found.