Langebaanweg’s sabertooth guild reveals an African Pliocene evolutionary hotspot for sabertooths (Carnivora; Felidae)

•Langebaanweg’s (LBW) sabertooth cat’s guild includes two new species•Dinofelis from LBW is the potential ancestor of Plio-Pleistocene Dinofelis•We confirm a Pan-African distribution Adeilosmilus and Lokotunjailurus•Comparison with Eurasian felid implies open environment at Here, we describe revise craniodental material Langebaanweg ‘E’ Quarry (South Africa, early Pliocene, ∼5.2 Ma), which represents one largest best-preserved collections felids Mio-Pliocene deposits Africa. Four taxa, including species, are recognized: Lokotunjailurus chinsamyae sp. nov., aff. kabir, Yoshi obscura, Dinofelis werdelini nov. The composition analyzed herein suggests presence mosaic components in region, shows relationship that Yuanmou, suggesting similar and/or dispersal route/event. reassessment rich Pliocene step toward understanding transition evolution southern hemisphere during late Miocene to Pliocene. witnessed global climate change colder environment.1Zachos J. Pagani M. Sloan L. Thomas E. 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A stegolophodon Africa.Nature. 1958; 182: 101-102https://doi.org/10.1038/182101a0Crossref (7) reported first occurrence Tertiary vertebrate fossils area, describing remains an elephant′s relative ‘Baard’s Quarry’ was later back-filled.14Hendey Q. age Baard's Quarry, Langebaanweg, 1978; 75: 1-24Google Fossils fragmentary show evidence rolling. thought originate river lag deposit reworked below level 2 may have been contemporaneous. In 1965, mining started Varswater mine, 2.5 producing diverse Langebaanweg.11Hendey Scholar,12Hendey Scholar,15Hendey Palaeoecology occurrences in" E" reinterpretation their geological context.Ann. 84: 1-104Google Fieldwork began 1965 continues until today. occur Formation spans middle (Langhian) (Zanclean).10Roberts Scholar,16Tankard langebaanweg–saldanha province.Trans. Geol. 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Our main goal our composed genera, better understand paleobiology ecology guilds sabertooths Order Bowdich, 1821.Family Fischer, 1817.Subfamily Machairodontinae Gill, 1872.Tribe Machairodontini 1872.Lokotunjailurus Werdelin, 2003. Type species: emageritus Included fanonei al., 2010 Chronology distribution: Currently central, eastern, Amended diagnosis: medium large size. Very infraorbital foramen. Alisphenoid canal present. Glenoid fossa antero-posteriorly elongated, overhung. Mandibular flange absent weak, horizontal ramus slender, ascending relatively tall machairodont cat. Upper canine moderately laterally compressed, low-crowned. Serrations both anterior posterior edges. P2 often double rooted. carnassial long slender highly reduced protocone; p2 can be present; p3 small single root. Lower long, low. Metaconid-talonid complex absent.Lokotunjailurus nov.Machairodus p.149, Hendey, 1974.Machairodus p.248, Turner, 1990.Amphimachairodus B., 201, 2006.'Machairodus' p.73, 2007. Holotype: SAM-PQL20505, fragmented maxilla, mandible, basicranium same individual (Figures 2, 3, 4).Figure 3Basicranial LangebaanwegShow full caption(A–D) Braincase SAM-PQL41573, posterior, ventral, dorsal lateral views; (E F) glenoid basicranial fragment ventral views. Note elevated alisphenoid neither Scale bar equals 10 cm.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)Figure 4Mandibular fragments nov kabir QuarryShow captionLokotunjailurus (A–E). (A–C) SAM-PQL-12641, dorsal, (D E) SAM-PQL-20505, (F G) SAM-PQL-6386, 5 (PPT) (A–D) cm. Etymology: honor Prof. Anusuya Chinsamy, world renowned paleontologist her contributions paleontology. locality: LQSM, (5.2 Ma). Assigned material: SAM-PQL12641, right hemimandible i3-c, p2-3 alveoli, p4-m1. SAM-PQL-22193, six thoracic vertebrae, three lumbar femora, tibiae, left fibula, astragalus, calcaneum second, third fourth metatarsals; SAM-PQL-52061, Rabe al.52Rabe Chinsamy Valenciano palaeobiological large, pathological sabretooth Felidae, Machairodontinae) lower Africa.Papers Palaeontology. e1463https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.1463Crossref (1) size, high femur greater trochanter indicate affinity. Moreover, morphology does not fit Amphimachairodus (and presumably Adeilosmilus), closer Lokotunjailurus, al.,52Rabe here assigned Known type (LQSM), Diagnosis: Medium-sized machairodontine jaguar. indistinct. Symphysis robust. robust low-crowned, clear serration. P3 less 1/2 length P4. P4 preparastyle. single-rooted. m1 slender. Differential Differs emageritus, having stronger mandibular flange, posteriorly extended angular process inclined coronoid process, retaining p2, p3; differs smaller longer C-P3 diastema, upper canine, process; especially rooted P2, proportionally p3/P3 (compared P4/m1), slenderer P4; larger weaker mandibula non-ventrally fossa, canal. Remarks: specimens SAM-PQL20505 SAM-PQL12641 Hendey (1974)12Hendey 4, 5; Tables 1 2). maxilla incomplete dentition well preserved. low crowned machairodontine. There strong serration keels canine. sides, side it whereas mesial accessory cusp medial cusp. distal cingulum cusp-like. elongated. preparastyle line axis tooth. protocone (more Amphimachairodus, state Homotherium), parastyle/paracone notch. mandible ramus, broken. symphysis thick. small. mental foramina. larger. poorly preserved, present, small.Table 1Measurements ratios studyTaxonDinofelis werdelini?Dinofelis werdeliniYoshi obscuraLokotunjailurus chinsamyaeCatalogL20284L47523 LL47523 RL20685 LL20685 RL50128L20702L2674L10100L20505 LL20505 RCL20.1718.6917.5517.8820.8418.6123.23CW13.2414.5310.5210.7313.259.0111.22CH50.0441.9642.5837.3049.40CW/L0.660.780.600.600.640.480.48CH/L2.482.392.381.792.13P3L19.8020.8319.3514.0015.55P3W11.6311.979.046.306.84P3W/L0.590.580.470.450.44P4L33.4533.2930.4923.8037.7137.19P4W17.8217.0314.3814.1812.2012.3713.25P4BW11.9212.339.849.7410.6910.85P4W/L0.530.510.470.510.330.36P4BW/L0.360.370.320.280.29M1L5.624.235.604.48M1W10.059.047.406.26M1W/L1.792.141.321.40CL/P4L0.560.550.63P3L/P4L0.590.630.590.41M1W/P4L0.300.310.17LT87.5259.6588.16LDP9.805.206.397.397.61LDP/LT0.110.110.09 Open table tab Table 2Measurements werdeliniLokotunjailurus chinsamyaecatalogL20995L20284L20284L51591L12237L20685L41054 LL41054 RL41726L12641L-20505cL15.2015.7916.4112.92cW9.9210.5612.0711.43cH23.7725.2520.5822.29cW/L0.650.670.740.89cH/L1.561.601.251.73p3L14.0314.5413.9915.2512.30p3W6.477.227.418.845.50p3W/L0.460.500.530.580.45p4L20.0922.3822.4522.6