The youngest known European Promephitis (Carnivora: Mephitidae): a new discovery from the Early Pliocene of Moldova

Le résumé fourni par la source

Mephitidae is one of the most enigmatic Carnivora (Mammalia) group. They originated in the early–middle Oligocene of Asia according to molecular studies. However, their first fossil appearance is dated to the Early Miocene. Mephitidae has one of the longest gaps in the fossil record of Tertiary mammals. The group remains are exclusively scarce in the Eurasian fossil record. Knowledge of the earliest stage of the family evolution is insufficient. Promephitis is the best-known genus of Eurasian fossil skunks. Their stratigraphic range spread from the early Vallesian to the late Ruscinian (11.6–3.4 Ma). The paper reports on the youngest known Promephitis finding in Europe. A diagnostic upper molar find of Promephitis from the late Early Pliocene (Late Ruscinian–Early Villafranchian, MN 15–16a) of Moldova (Lucești locality) is described. The specimen differs greatly from the earlier Promephitis representatives. The morphology of the upper molar from Lucești shows a certain omnivorous progress.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.