Metatelmatherium cristatum, Granger and Gregory 1938

Mader, Bryn J., 2008, A species level revision of Bridgerian and Uintan brontotheres (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) exclusive of Palaeosyops, Zootaxa 1837 (1), pp. 1-85 : 80

Species METATELMATHERIUM cristatum Granger and Gregory 1938

Holotype. AMNH 26411 , a skull and lower jaw.

Referred specimens. Type specimen only.

Diagnosis. Species of Metatelmatherium , probably distinguished by an elongated and broadly sloping mandibular symphysis. The taxon may also be distinguished by a relatively high and wide posterior cusp on P1, relatively large P2, relatively thin cingula on P3 and P4, relatively broad occiput, and a relatively broad coronoid process.

Discussion. Because the type species of Metatelmatherium is an Asian taxon it is not properly within the scope of the present paper. Nevertheless, because it is the type species of a taxon found in North America, it must be briefly discussed here. As noted above, Mihlbachler (2005) has regarded this species as a junior synonym of M. ultimum from North America, but for the present, I prefer to continue to regard M. cristatum as valid.

The type specimen of Metatelmatherium cristatum was collected by the American Museum of Natural History's Central Asiatic Expedition of 1930 from the Camp Margetts Area (Huhebolhe Cliff), 25 miles (approximately 40 km) south-southwest of Erhlien (Iren Dabasu) in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region ( Li & Ting 1983, p. 25). Since that time no other specimen of M. cristatum has been reported although, several authors ( Chow 1957; Tang & Chow 1964; Tang et al. 1974; Ding et al. 1977) have referred material from the Guangxi Province of southern China to M. browni (here regarded as a nomen dubium) or Metatelmatherium sp. I am not certain whether this material represents the genus Metatelmatherium but, if it does, it may be referable to M. cristatum .