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Peign‚, S.
Systematic review of European Nimravinae (Mammalia, Carnivora, Nimravidae) and the phylogenetic relationships of Palaeogene Nimravidae
2003 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 .rst phylogenetic systematic review of Palaeogene Nimravidae. The .rst 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 HENNIG 86 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 con.rmation 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.
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