Pseudaelurus Gervais, 1850

ROTHWELL, TOM, 2001, A Partial Skeleton of Pseudaelurus (Carnivora: Felidae) from the Nambé Member of the Tesuque Formation, Española Basin, New Mexico, American Museum Novitates 3342, pp. 1-32 : 5

Genus Pseudaelurus Gervais, 1850

DISTRIBUTION: Early to medial (MN3 to MN9) Miocene of Europe; early to medial (late Hemingfordian to late Barstovian) Miocene of North America; early medial Miocene of Asia; early (MN4a) Miocene of Africa.

GENERIC DIAGNOSIS: Members of Felidae with the unique combination of the following derived and primitive characters: presence of p2 with the usual absence of p1 and m2, m1 with reduced metaconid and talonid, P2 with one root, alisphenoid canal present, paroccipital process cupped about the posterior surface of an enlarged caudal entotympanic. Differing from extant felid genera by c cross section showing flattened inner surface and posterior trenchant edge, presence of p2, m1 with variable metaconid and reduced talonid, presence of alisphenoid canal. Differing from Metailurus by presence of alisphenoid canal and p2, absence of enlargement of mental ridge. Differing from Nimravides by smaller size and absence of any ventral mandibular mental ridge enlargement. Differing from Proailurus by absence of p1 and m2.

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

INCLUDED SPECIES: Pseudaelurus intrepidus Leidy, 1858 ; Pseudaelurus turnauensis Hoernes, 1882 ; Pseudaelurus lorteti Gaillard, 1899 ; Pseudaelurus marshi Thorpe, 1922 ; Pseudaelurus romieviensis Roman­Viret, 1934 ; Pseudaelurus aeluroides Macdonald, 1954 ; Pseudaelurus guangheensis Cao, Du, Zhao, and Cheng, 1990 ; Pseudaelurus cuspidatus Wang, 1998 .