Plagiolophus huerzeleri, une nouvelle espèce de Palaeotheriidae (Perissodactyla, Mammalia) de l'Oligocène inférieur (Rupélien, MP 23), à murs (Vaucluse, France)

Abstract

The Murs locality has yielded important remains of Plagiolophus yet unpublished. The study of thismaterial has shown that it represents a new species which must be referred to the nominotypical subgenus, owing to its long post-canine diastemata and to its rather shallow nasal incision. Plagiolophus huerzeleri nov. sp. can be distinguished from P. javali by a less bulky mandible with smaller teeth, and by a less cumbersome locomotory apparatus. It differs mainly from P. ministri by a 20% larger size, a less slender aspect with a broader skull and a slightly longer face. The other mammals of the Murs fauna, together with occurrences of the new species in well dated local faunas from the Quercy Phosphorites, such as Itardies, lead us to refer the Murs locality to the biochronologic level MP 23, whilst P. ministri from Villebramar seems to be restricted to the level MP 22.