A new cursorial hyena from Tibet, and analysis of biostratigraphy, paleozoogeography, and dental morphology ofChasmaporthetes(Mammalia, Carnivora)

From ‘third pole’ to north pole: a Himalayan origin for the arctic fox

“…Previously, we documented the Tibetan origin of the cold-loving woolly rhinoceros and proposed an 'Out-of-Tibet' hypothesis, in which the Tibetan Plateau served as a cradle of Ice Age megafauna in northern Eurasia [2]. Furthermore, we also documented a deep-time Tibetan origin of a high-altitude Panthera lineage [3], an early precursor of running hyaena Chasmaporthetes [4], as well as a wolf-sized, hypercarnivorous canid [5]. To these, we now add another example, one which links the modern arctic fauna with historic high Tibet.…”

First description of in situ primate and faunal remains from the Plio-Pleistocene Drimolen Makondo palaeocave infill, Gauteng, South Africa

“…The associated DNM 3 specimens represent a partial left pes of a hyaenid that is both metrically and morphologically distinct from both Crocuta and Parahyaena. The metatarsal and phalanges conform to previously described morphology of Chasmaporthetes elements, but are more gracile than the more robust North American taxon (Berta, 1981;Tseng et al, 2013). At present, the Drimolen Makondo specimens have not been directly compared to postcranial elements associated with craniodental remains assigned to Percrocuta (Adcrocuta) australis (L 13033;Hendey, 1974;1978), reassigned to Chasmaporthetes australis FIGURE 6.…”

“…This extension nearly converges with the plantar facet to close off the shallow concavity that receives the base of the fifth metatarsal. The proximal phalanges (DNM 3-3 and DNM 3-5) conform to previously described C. ossifragus and C. gangsriensis phalanges to the exclusion of other hyaenid genera (TRO 1671 and UF 27377;Berta, 1981;IVPP V18567.2;Tseng et al, 2013;Turner, 1993;Figure 6.6-8;Table 5) in exhibiting dorsoventrally deep articular surfaces that are notched on the plantar surface, providing robust insertion platforms for the interosseous muscles on either side of the groove for the flexor digitorum profundus tendon. In dorsal view, the body is strongly waisted near the proximal end, contributing to a distinct mediolateral expansion of the diaphysis near the distal articular surface.…”

A New Skull of Hyaenictis Gaudry, 1861 (Carnivora, Hyaenidae) Shows Incipient Adaptations to Durophagy

“…(Turner et al 2008). Thus, IPS62078 differs from Chasmaporthetes (see Kurtén and Werdelin 1988;Werdelin and Solounias 1991;Werdelin and Turner 1996;Antón et al 2006;Tseng et al 2013) in the presence of p1, the relatively broader cheek teeth, the less developed accessory cusps in the premolars, the mesial and distal accessory cusps of the premolars aligned with the main cusp (instead of lingually tilted), the presence of metaconid (even if vestigial), the tricuspid m1 talonid (Chasmaporthetes lacks the hypoconulid and sometimes the hypoconid), and the presence of m2.…”

“…The examined fossil comparative sample includes the holotype (MGB16051) of Hyaenictis almerai from SMT (MN10), housed in the MCNB; remains of Adrocuta eximia Roth and Wagner, 1854 from Torrentet de Traginers (Piera, MN12), housed in the ICP; specimens of Chasmaporthetes lunensis (Del Campana, 1914) from La Puebla de Valverde (Teruel, MN17), housed in the MNCN; and topotypic specimens of Hyaenictis hendeyi housed in SAM (see institution abbreviations below). Additional data from other Miocene and Pliocene hyaenids included in the comparative sample were taken from the literature (Gaudry 1861;Villalta Comella and Crusafont Pairó 1948;Hendey 1978;Howell and Petter 1985;Qiu 1987;Kurtén and Werdelin 1988;Werdelin 1988Werdelin , 1999Koufos 2011;Tseng et al 2013). They include: Adcrocuta (MN10-MN13, Eurasia), including Adcrocuta eximia; Lycyaena Hensel, 1863 (MN9-MN12, Eurasia and North Africa), including Lycyaena chaeretis (Gaudry, 1861), Lycyaena dubia Zdansky, 1924, and Lycyaena crusafonti Kurtén, 1976; Chasmaporthetes (MN12-early Pleistocene, Eurasia, Africa and North America), including Chasmaporthetes gangsriensis Tseng, Li and Wang, 2013, Chasmaporthetes lunensis, Chasmaporthetes ossifragus Hay, 1921, Chasmaporthetes borissiaki (Khomenko, 1931), Chasmaporthetes australis (Hendey, 1974), and Chasmaporthetes nitiluda (Ewer, 1955); Lycyaenops Kretzoi, 1938 (MN14-early Pleistocene, Europe and Africa), including Lycyaenops silberbergi (Broom in Broom and Schepers, 1946) and Lycyaenops rhomboideae Kretzoi, 1938; and Hyaenictis (MN10-MN14, Europe and Africa), including H. graeca, H. almerai, H. hendeyi and ?H.…”