Mustelictis aff. olivieri Bonis, 1997

(Figs 4 C-E, G; 5F)

TYPE SPECIMEN. — Holotype: skull, UP MGB60, by author designation; paratype: hemi-mandible, UP MGB 7.

NEW MATERIAL. — Left m1, LPL11; left fragment of hemi-mandible, UP LPL12; right m1, UM VBOA 3-4; fragment of right hemi-mandible p2-p4, UM VD 12; left P4, VBO 494.

REMARKS

The holotype and paratype of the species come from Mas de Got (MP 22). A skull and a hemi-mandible (paratype) were figured by Bonis (1997: figs 1, 2). New research has recovered additional specimens in other localities.

DESCRIPTION

The premolars are present in UP LPL12 and UM VD12 and all of them have cutting mesial and distal edges. The p2 is dissymmetric, the mesial part being smaller than the distal

one and having a more sloping mesial edge, the distal one finishing by a small upturned spur at its base. The p3, less dissymmetric than p2, displays a mesial spur; distally there is a small talonid with a small fovea surrounded by a low cristid; there is also a small pacd at mid-height on the distal edge (Fig. 4G 1, G 2). The p4 is similar to p3 but is larger. The carnassial is very similar to that of the type of M. olivieri but the talonid is less narrow. The m2 is larger than in the type in both absolute size and relative to m1; it has a complete trigonid with high protoconid and metaconid and small but clear paraconid, and a narrow talonid (Fig. 4B). The isolated P4 (VBO 494) figured by Peigné et al. (2014: fig. 22a) is close to that of the type specimen from Mas de Got, with a mesio-lingually elongate protocone finishing by a conic cusp, a buccal cingulum and a small mesial bulging representing a parastyle (Fig. 5F). These remains are close to the material of M. olivieri (Fig. 4F 1, F 2) but the small differences lead us to be cautious about the identification. They could be due to a small difference in the geological age between two localities of MP 22.