Systematic review of European Nimravinae (Mammalia, Carnivora, Nimravidae) and the phylogenetic relationships of Palaeogene Nimravidae

Abstract

Peigné, S. (2003). Systematic review of European Nimravinae (Mammalia, Carnivora, Nimravidae) and the phylogenetic relationships of Palaeogene Nimravidae. —Zoologica Scripta, 32, 199–229.The Nimravidae is a family of sabre‐tooth predators which are well represented in North America and Europe. Most of the previous studies have concentrated on the North American taxa which are the best known. However, the relationships between the European and North American genera have never been carefully investigated. This study presents the results of the first phylogenetic systematic review of Palaeogene Nimravidae. The first part of this work presents the systematic revision of several European taxa (Nimravus intermedius, Dinailurictis bonali and Quercylurus major) and also includes the description of new material from the Early Oligocene of western Europe. The second part deals with the phylogenetic relationships of the Palaeogene Nimravidae. Thirty‐three cranial, mandibular and dental characters were analysed, including a precise analysis of the sabre‐tooth adaptation. The resulting data matrix was analysed through a cladistic analysis which included 19 taxa, including a hypothetical ancestor (outgroup), a primitive skull assigned to cf. Eofelis, and the genera Nimravus (two species), Dinaelurus, Eofelis, Dinailurictis, Quercylurus, Dinictis, Pogonodon, Nanosmilus, Hoplophoneus (four species) and Eusmilus (four species). The analysis of the main core of the character matrix (only 15 taxa + hypothetical ancestor) using the program hennig86 resulted in three most parsimonious trees [length 75; consistency index (CI) = 0.82; retention index (RI) = 0.89]; the strict consensus tree (length 76; CI = 0.81; RI = 0.89) is presented. The main results of the analysis are the strong support for the monophyly of the Nimravine; the confirmation of the basal divergence between Nimravini (Nimravus and Dinaelurus) and all other genera; the sister group relationship of Dinictis to Pogonodon; the plesiomorphic morphology of the European genera Eofelis, Dinailurictis and Quercylurus; the strong support of the clade Nanosmilus/Hoplophoneus/Eusmilus; the unresolved relationships of Hoplophoneus species; and the unequivocal assignment of the species sicarius to Eusmilus. Palaeogeographical and evolutionary implications for the Nimravidae are discussed.