Abstract
Cernictis and Lutravus are two early members of Ictonychinae (Mustelidae) from North America, but their origin and phylogenetic position are unclear. In this study, we describe a rich Late Miocene assemblage of mustelids from Baode in northern China and from Shuitangba, Zhaotong and Shihuiba, Lufeng, in southern China. We recognize Cernictis baskini sp. nov. from Baode, Cernictis lufengensis from Shihuiba and Shuitangba, Lutravus dianensis sp. nov. from Shihuiba, and Shansictis xinzhouensis gen. et sp. nov. from Baode. Our systematic phylogenetic analyses of this group using total-evidence tip-dating place both Lutravus and Shansictis within Lyncodontini, with the former in a more basal position, and Cernictis as a basal member of Ictonychini. Even though the within-genera relationships of the Late Miocene Ictonychinae are still not fully understood, the divergence of the two tribes is likely to have occurred in the Late Miocene of eastern Asia, with the subfamily undergoing rapid intercontinental dispersals after its initial diversification. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5F10058A-42CC-4C47-BA90-43B114ACD1A4
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