Pseudaelurus Gervais, 1850

ROTHWELL, TOM, 2003, Phylogenetic Systematics of North American Pseudaelurus (Carnivora: Felidae), American Museum Novitates 3403, pp. 1-64 : 12

Genus Pseudaelurus Gervais, 1850

TYPE SPECIES: Pseudaelurus quadridentatus ( Blainville, 1843) (= Felis quadridenta Blainville, 1843 )

INCLUDED SPECIES: Type species and Pseudaelurus intrepidus Leidy, 1858 ; Pseudaelurus turnauensis Hoernes, 1882 ; Pseudaelurus lorteti Gaillard, 1899 ; Pseudaelurus marshi Thorpe, 1922 ; Pseudaelurus romieviensis Roman and Viret, 1934 ; Pseudaelurus aeluroides Macdonald, 1954 ; Pseudaelurus guangheensis Cao et al.1990 ; and Pseudaelurus cuspidatus Wang et al., 1998 ; Pseudaelurus validus, Rothwell, 2001 .

DISTRIBUTION: Early to middle (MN3 to MN9) Miocene of Europe; early to middle (late Hemingfordian to late Barstovian) Miocene of North America; early to middle (Xiejian to Shangwangian) Miocene of Asia; early Miocene of Africa.

GENERIC DIAGNOSIS: Members of Felidae with the following derived characters: absence of p1 and m2, m1 with reduced metaconid and talonid, P2 with one root, paroccipital process cupped about the posterior surface of an enlarged caudal entotympanic, tall coronoid process, hypoglossal foramen sharing a common depression with the posterior lacerate foramen, and a blunt and rectangular­shaped metacarpal 1. These derived characters are seen in combination with the primitive characters of presence of p2 and alisphenoid canal. Pseudaelurus differs from extant felid genera in c cross section showing flattened inner surface and posterior trenchant edge, presence of p2, m1 with variable metaconid and reduced talonid, and alisphenoid canal present. Differs from Metailurus in presence of alisphenoid canal and p2, absence of enlargement of mental ridge. Differs from Nimravides in smaller size and absence of any ventral mandibular mental ridge enlargement. Differs from Proailurus in absence of p1 and m2.