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The fossil carnivores of the Transvaal caves: Machairodontinae
Author(s) -
Ewer R. F.
Publication year - 1955
Publication title -
proceedings of the zoological society of london
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0370-2774
DOI - 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1955.tb00619.x
Subject(s) - broom , cave , genus , fauna , paleontology , affinities , geology , archaeology , geography , biology , zoology , ecology , biochemistry
S smmary . A new machairodont, Therailurus piveteaui , is described. The specimens from Sterkfontein described by Broom (1937) as Megantereon barlowi are discussed, and it is concluded that reference to the genus Meganttreon is incorrect. A new specimen from the same deposit appears to belong to the same species as Broom's specimens and shows many similarities to Therailurus piveteaui. It is concluded that all belong to a second species of Therailurus , which thus becomes Therailurus barlowi (Broom). On the basis of the new material an amplified description of Therailurus barlowi is given. A mandibular fragment from Swartkrans is described. Its similarities to T. piveteaui and T. barlowi indicate that it represents another species of the same genus. A new species of Megantereon, M. eurynodon , from the Kromdraai deposit is described. Two incompletely identified mandibular fragments from the Swartkrans deposit are described: of these one is referred to the Nimravidae, and the other to the Machairodontinae. The latter may possibly be a species of Megantereon. Fragmentary lower carnassials from Kromdraai are also described: these may possibly belong to a species of Epimachairodus. A list of all the known fossil machairodonts from the Transvaal deposits is given, and the implications as to the dating of the deposits are discussed. It is concluded that the material does not provide any basis for an accurate dating of the deposits, but supports the view that they are not all strictly contemporaneous. The affinities of the fauna are considered to be with South East Asia, rather than Europe.