Topic
Simocyon
About: Simocyon is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 15 publications have been published within this topic receiving 404 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: It seems that, whereas the false thumb of the giant panda probably evolved for manipulating bamboo, the false thumbs of the red panda and of S. batalleri more likely evolved as an aid for arboreal locomotion, with thered panda secondarily developing its ability for item manipulation and thus producing one of the most dramatic cases of convergence among vertebrates.
Abstract: The "false thumb" of pandas is a carpal bone, the radial sesamoid, which has been enlarged and functions as an opposable thumb. If the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) are not closely related, their sharing of this adaptation implies a remarkable convergence. The discovery of previously unknown postcranial remains of a Miocene red panda relative, Simocyon batalleri, from the Spanish site of Batallones-1 (Madrid), now shows that this animal had a false thumb. The radial sesamoid of S. batalleri shows similarities with that of the red panda, which supports a sister-group relationship and indicates independent evolution in both pandas. The fossils from Batallones-1 reveal S. batalleri as a puma-sized, semiarboreal carnivore with a moderately hypercarnivore diet. These data suggest that the false thumbs of S. batalleri and Ailurus fulgens were probably inherited from a primitive member of the red panda family (Ailuridae), which lacked the red panda's specializations for herbivory but shared its arboreal adaptations. Thus, it seems that, whereas the false thumb of the giant panda probably evolved for manipulating bamboo, the false thumbs of the red panda and of S. batalleri more likely evolved as an aid for arboreal locomotion, with the red panda secondarily developing its ability for item manipulation and thus producing one of the most dramatic cases of convergence among vertebrates.
97 citations
TL;DR: The morphology of the forelimb, the lumbar region and the unexpected presence of a false-thumb are strongly suggestive of arboreal capabilities, consistent with a palaeobiological model of a generalized carnivore that foraged mainly on the ground but could readily climb to trees for safety if faced with the threat of larger competing carnivores.
55 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The most complete and best−preserved materials assigned to Simocyon from Spain are described and a differential di− agnosis forSimocyon batalleri is proposed, which is morphologically intermediate between the more primitive S. diaphorus and the more derived S. primigenius.
Abstract: We describe the most complete and best−preserved materials assigned to Simocyon from Spain. Specimens come from the late Miocene (Vallesian) locality of Batallones−1, Province of Madrid and are assigned to Simocyon batalleri. Cra− nial, mandibular and dental anatomy of S. batalleri from Batallones−1 is described and compared with those of known species of Simocyon. We review the systematic status and the definition of the species of Simocyon and we analyse the morphological variation within Simocyon. Three species are recognized as valid. S. batalleri is known from several Vallesian localities (mainly MN 10) of Spain. S. diaphorus, from the early Vallesian of Germany (Mammal Zone MN 9), is the geologically oldest European species. The type species S. primigenius is Turolian in age and known from sev− eral localities of Europe, North America, and China. The species includes the junior synonyms S. zdanskyi and S. marshi. The status of Simocyon hungaricus is not resolved. Simocyon simpsoni is excluded here from Simocyon and re− assigned to its original generic name Protursus. On the basis of the material described here, we propose a differential di− agnosis for Simocyon batalleri. This species is morphologically intermediate between the more primitive S. diaphorus, which has a less reduced p3; and the more derived S. primigenius, characterized by a modified mandible (e.g., more ver− tical and more expanded coronoid process, longer angular process). The evolution of the genus Simocyon is character− ized by a trend toward a more crushing adaptation involving at least a modification of the posterior part of the mandible. A reconstruction of the skull and life appearance of Simocyon is proposed.
53 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the evolution of carnivoran guilds (body mass, locomotor pattern, and diet preference) across the Middle to Upper Miocene boundary was analyzed based on a comparison of the carnivoran fauna from Steinheim and Eppelsheim formations.
15 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, it was shown that the mephitid status of Palaeomephitis and Proputorius is doubtful and that the late Miocene Promephitis is at a lower grade of encephalization than modern Mephitidae and could be the sister taxon of Pleistocene and modern forms.
Abstract: The upper Miocene sites of Hadjidimovo and Kalimantsi in southwestern Bulgaria have yielded fossils of three musteloids: the ailurid Simocyon Wagner, 1858, the mustelid Promeles Zittel, 1890, and several skulls of Promephitis Gaudry, 1861, an Eurasian member of the Mephitidae. Extant mephitids are represented by three New World and one South-Asian genera. Palaeomephitis Jager, 1839, Miomephitis Dehm, 1950, and Proputorius Filhol, 1890, from the Middle Miocene of Europe, as well as several American Clarendonian to Hemphillian (late middle to late Miocene) genera have also been ascribed to the Mephitidae. We show that the mephitid status of Palaeomephitis, Miomephitis, and Proputorius is doubtful, and that the late Miocene Promephitis is at a lower grade of encephalization than modern Mephitidae and could be the sister taxon of Pleistocene and modern forms, which can be called Mephitinae. Within this subfamily, the American Pleistocene and modern taxa form the sister group of the Asian Mydaus Cuvie...
13 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |