Eomellivora fricki ( Pia, 1939 )

Valenciano, A, Abella, J, Göhlich, UB, Álvarez-Sierra, MA & Morales, J, 2017, Re-evaluation of the very large Eomellivora fricki (Pia, 1939) (Carnivora, Mustelidae, Mellivorinae) from the Late Miocene of Austria, Palaeontologia Electronica 20 (1), pp. 1-22 : 6-8

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.26879/691
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/A21187B6-3043-FFB7-4568-FD5EFBEEFDC1
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Eomellivora fricki ( Pia, 1939 )
status

Treatment

Eomellivora fricki ( Pia, 1939)

Figure 2 View FIGURE 2 , Table 3

1939 Hadrictis fricki Pia , p. 538, figures 1-5.

1942 Hadrictis fricki Kretzoi , p. 319.

1948 Hadrictis fricki Zapfe , p. 244, figure 1.

1965 Hadrictis fricki Ozansoy , p.25.

1965 Hadrictis fricki Kretzoi , p.131.

Holotype. NHMW 2016 View Materials /0065/0001, comprising several small fragments of a cranium, including a portion of maxilla with P4 and M1.

Type locality. Wien XII-Altmannsdorf (Vienna, Austria) .

Other locality. Gaiselberg (Lower Austria, Austria).

Stratigraphical distribution. Late Miocene (MN9).

Diagnosis. For cranium and upper dentition in Pia (1939) and for mandible and lower dentition in Zapfe (1948).

Emended diagnosis. Eomellivora of very largesize, with a relatively large P4 and M1. M1 with an enlarged stylar area, metacone not reduced, protocone ridge-edge located mesially with a prominent lingual platform. Very robust mandible, with a large c, presence of p1, rectangular p4 without a mesial accessory cuspid, a large m1, and a relatively large m2, according to its alveolus.

Differential diagnosis. Differs from all the species of Eomellivora in a larger dentition, in the presence of a residual m1 metaconid and in a stouter mandibular corpus. Differs from E. piveteaui in a bigger M1 metacone, in a larger distal platform in M1 and in a shorter mandible. Differs from E. wimani in a less concave buccal base of the P4, in a more developed M1 metacone and a non-cuspid-like M1 protocone; Furthermore, it differs in the absence of a mesial accessory cuspid in p4 and a shorter mandible. Differs from E. ursogulo in a better developed M1 metacone and a non-cuspid-like protocone; additionally it differs in the absence of a mesial accessory cuspid in p4, in possessing only one distal accessory cuspid in p4 and in a shorter mandible. Differs from E. hungarica in a much more developed M1 with a larger metacone and larger distal platform in M1 and in the absence of a mesial accessory cuspid in p4.

Description. NHMW 2016/0065/0001 comprises five little fragments of an incomplete cranium from Wien XII-Altmansdorf previously described by Pia (1939): (1) a fragment of the left maxilla with the distal part of the P3 alveoli and a worn P4-M1 ( Figure 2.1-4 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 ; Table 3). It also shows the most rostral portion of the zygomatic arch and the ventral part of the infraorbital foramen; (2) an homologous edentulous fragment of the right maxilla ( Figure 2.5-6 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 ) with the distal part of the P3 alveolus, the alveoli of P4 and one broken root of the M1; (3) a small fragment of the left zygomatic arch, fitting the frontal process of the zygomatic ( Figure 2.7 View FIGURE 2 ); (4) a small fragment of the left temporo-mandibular joint with a partial glenoid cavity ( Figure 2.8 View FIGURE 2 ); and (5) a fragment including the right mastoid process, the ventral part of the nuchal crest, the external auditory meatus and part of the glenoid cavity ( Figure 2.9 View FIGURE 2 -10). Neither the alisphenoid canal nor a suprameatal fossa can be observed.

The distal part of the P3 alveolus is very wide, which indicates that the distal end of the P3 is wide. The P4 is strongly worn in the distal and occlusal area ( Figure 2.1-4 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 ). It displays a very low but robust parastyle and a paracone-parastyle crest. The protocone, which is strongly worn, is subconical, robust and located in line with the mesial corner of the P4. Despite this wear, an inflection between the protocone and parastyle is visible. There is also a concavity in the buccal wall between the paracone and the metastyle. The M1 is a very large tooth with a typical morphology of Eomellivora , with the buccal wall narrower than the lingual one. It shows an enormous wear facet in the paracone, in the metacone and in the mesial part close to the protocone, as well as in the most distal corner of the tooth ( Figure 2.2, 2.4 View FIGURE 2 ). The mesial wear facet of the M1 is caused by the occlusion with the metaconid area of the m1, and the distal wear facet is produced by the occlusion with the m2. The stylar area is greatly enlarged. The paracone is conical and situated in the mesiobuccal corner. The metacone is also quite well developed and is surrounded by a distal expansion. The protocone is ridge-shaped, and it is mesiolingually located. There exists a swollen lingual platform that completely encloses the protocone.

The right hemimandible NHMW 1977/1948/ 0130 comes from Gaiselberg (Lower Austria) and was previously described by Zapfe (1948). The fragment has a total length of 123.37 mm. The mandible is very short, robust and dorsoventrally deep ( Figure 2.11 View FIGURE 2 -14; Table 3). The height of the ramus, ventral to the m1, is 31 mm, and maximum width is 16.6 mm. The surface of the mandibular corpus is quite smooth, indicating some degree of alteration in its original morphology, likely due to a process of erosion by transport. The ventral margin is convex, with a medial bulge ventral to the distal part of the p4 on the ventromedial margin of the mandibular corpus. There are two rounded mental foramina, one ventral to the p2 and another ventral to the distal area of the p3. The mandibular symphysis is rather vertical and stout. The preserved dentition comprises c, p4 and m1 and the alveoli for i2-3, p1-2 and m2. The c is robust and elliptical in cross section, but the tip is broken off. The alveolus of the p1 is rounded. The p2 is two-rooted. The alveoli for the p2 are buccolingually rotated relative to the tooth row. The length of its alveoli suggests a long p2. This hemimandible has no alveoli for the p3; rather, there is a porous surface over the mandible, indicating that the tooth was lost when the animal was alive and reflects a complete closure of the alveoli. The p4 is long and sub quadrangular with a slight distal broadening. It presents no mesial accessory cuspid. The main cuspid is well worn and is inclined distally toward the m1. The distal accessory cuspid is high but also worn. The distal cingulum is high and shows a wear facet in the distobuccal corner of the p4, resulting from the occlusion with the P4. The m1 is very large and well worn. The trigonid occupies two-thirds of the total length of the tooth and bears a buccal wear facet on the trenchant blade. Between the paraconid and the protoconid there is a lingual concavity at the base of the crown. A residual metaconid can be observed ( Figure 2.12 View FIGURE 2 ). The talonid appears to have been high; however, due to its degree of wear this cannot be assured. The hypoconid is in a central position. The oval alveolus for m2 indicates a relatively large m2. It has a buccolingual constriction between the roots.