ABSTRACT

This study presents a new species of a large-sized lutrine from the upper Miocene hominid locality of Hammerschmiede, Vishnuonyx neptuni sp. nov., reporting the first occurrence of the genus in Europe and its most northern and western record. The new species differs from the already known members of the genus in size (intermediate between the African Vishnuonyx? angololensis and the Asiatic Vishnuonyx chinjiensis) and morphology, in particular in the larger P4 hypocone, the primitive morphology of M1 (paraconule present, enlarged protoconule and metaconule, labial expansion at the paracone area), the shorter and more robust lower premolars and the wider m1 trigonid. We hypothesized that the dispersal event that led to the expansion of the genus in Europe seems to be correlated with the water connection between Paratethys and the Mesopotamian Basin during the Konkian, between 13.4 and 12.65 Ma. In terms of paleoecology, it is here suggested that this form was feeding mainly on fish and less on bivalves or plant material, resembling the extant giant otter, Pteronura brasiliensis.

摘要

这项研究展示了一种来自上中新世原始人 Hammerschmiede、Vishnuonyx neptuni sp.的大型 lutrine 新物种。11 月，报告了该属首次出现在欧洲及其最北部和西部的记录。这个新种在大小上不同于该属的已知成员（介于非洲Vishnuonyx ? angololensis和亚洲Vishnuonyx chinjiensis 之间）) 和形态，特别是在较大的 P4 下锥体中，M1 的原始形态（存在旁锥体，增大的原锥体和后锥体，旁锥体区域的唇扩张），更短和更坚固的下前磨牙和更宽的 m1 三棱锥。我们假设导致该属在欧洲扩张的扩散事件似乎与 13.4 至 12.65 Ma 之间的 Konkian 期间 Paratethys 和美索不达米亚盆地之间的水连接有关。在古生态学方面，这里建议这种形式主要以鱼类为食，较少以双壳类动物或植物材料为食，类似于现存的巨型水獭，巴西翼龙。