Nimravides, a New Genus of Felidae from the Pliocene of California, Texas and Oklahoma

Abstract

The Arnett local fauna from Ellis County, Oklahoma (see Kitts, 1957) includes two remarkably well preserved and complete felid lower jaws. Investigation has revealed that these specimens are very similar to and probably conspecific with material from the Higgins local fauna which has been referred to Machairodus Kaup (see Hesse, 1940) and material from the Black Hawk Ranch local fauna which has been referred to Pseudaelurus Gervais (see Macdonald, 1948). A study of the Arnett, Black Hawk Ranch and Higgins specimens reveals that they are certainly not referable to Machairodus and that, although they bear a number of marked resemblances to the lower jaw of Pseudaelurus , their generic separation from this genus is almost certainly justified. I should like to express my gratitude to Dr. Donald E. Savage of the University of California who allowed me complete access to the specimens in his charge and to Dr. J. R. Macdonald who permitted me to reproduce two figures from his paper on the Black Hawk Ranch carnivores. The plate was prepared by Mr. Irwin Gold. This study was supported by a grant from the faculty research fund of the University of Oklahoma. The following abbreviations are used: O.U.S.M.—J. Willis Stovall Museum of Science and History, University of Oklahoma; U.C.M.P.—Museum of Paleontology, University of California. All measurements are in millimeters. > Family FELIDAE Gray, 1821 > > Subfamily Nimravinae Trouessart, 1885 > > Nimravides gen. nov. > > (Figs. 1, 2; Plate I) Fig. 1 Nimravides thinobates (Macdonald). Type, U.C.M.P. No. 34513, right lower jaw fragment with P3 and M1; a, crown view; b, lateral view; ×½. (After Macdonald). Fig. 2 Nimravides thinobates (Macdonald). U.C.M.P. No. 34512, skull; a, palatal view. b, lateral view. ×½. (After Macdonald). Plate I Nimravides thinobates (Macdonald). a and b , O.U.S.M. No. 36-4-S13, left lower jaw; a , crown view of cheek …