The Epivillafranchian carnivore Pannonictis (Mammalia, Mustelidae) from Sima del Elefante (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain) and a revision of the Eurasian occurrences from a taxonomic perspective

Abstract

Since the Early Villafranchian, the genus Pannonictis has been distributed in Eurasia from eastern China to the Iberian Peninsula. However, most of the finds of this large-sized mustelid are scant and fragmentary, resulting in a proliferation of names and unclear taxonomic history. Pannonictis pliocaenica and “ Pannonictis pilgrimi” from Villány-Kalkberg are here considered as the same species, the latter being a synonym. The Asian representatives are among the most robust and present some anatomical differences. The recovery of new specimens from sites with well-known chronology and accurate stratigraphy is essential to clarify the taxonomic relationships among the several Plio-Pleistocene Pannonictis species described. The Sima del Elefante (Atapuerca, Spain) finds play a relevant role. Pannonictis nestii is a likely candidate as a last survivor of the genus, extending to the Late-Early Pleistocene. A review of the Eurasian occurrences of Pannonictis is presented, together with an attempt to establish a geographic and chronological picture of this genus that undoubtedly survived up to the Latest-Early Pleistocene. The Sardinian skull attributed to Enhydrictis “ galictoides”, is here placed as the only representative of this genus, and was likely confined to the Middle-Late Pleistocene in the Tusco-Sardinian paleobioprovince.