Museum, University of Nebraska State

 

Date of this Version

1970

Document Type

Article

Citation

BULLETIN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM VOLUME 9, NUMBER 1

Pp. 1-31, Table 1-2 Frontispiece, Figs. 1-13

Comments

Copyright © Nebraska State Museum. Used by permission.

Abstract

A new genus of Pliocene Saber-toothed felid, Barbourofelis, is proposed and two new species B. fricki and B. morrisi are described. These two forms and other described material represent an unusual lineage of felids with long sabers, shortened crania, and massive postorbital bars. The tribal name Barbourofelini is proposed for this lineage which is presently known in North America from deposits ranging in age from Clarendonian through Kimballian. The Barbourofelini apparently migrated from Eurasia to North America in the Late Miocene or Early Pliocene. Sansanosmilus of the French Vindobonian appears to represent the ancestral stock of these cats. The following genera of other saber-toothed felids are discussed: Hoplophoneus, Eusmilus, Dinictis, Nimravus, Ekgmoiteptecela, Ma.chairodus, Ischyrosmilus, Homotherium, H. (Dinobastis), Megantereon, and Smilodon. The two generic names Albanosmilus and Grivasmilus also are considered. The continued usage of the provincial age terms Valentinian and Kimballian is recommended, and a faunal list for these units in Nebraska is provided.

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