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Craniodental morphology and diet of Leptarctus oregonensis (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae) from the Mascall Formation (Miocene) of central Oregon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2017

Jonathan J. Calede ,
Winifred A. Kehl  and
Edward B. Davis
Jonathan J. Calede*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Washington, 24 Kincaid Hall, Box 351800, Seattle, Washington 98195-1800, USA 〈caledj@uw.edu〉
Winifred A. Kehl
Affiliation:
Department of Museology, University of Washington, Box 359485, Seattle, WA 98195-9485, USA 〈kehlw@uw.edu〉
Edward B. Davis
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences and Museum of Natural and Cultural History, University of Oregon, 1272 University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403-1272, USA 〈edavis@uoregon.edu〉
*
*Current address: Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University at Marion, 1461 Mount Vernon Avenue, Marion, Ohio 43302-5628, USA 〈calede.1@osu.edu〉
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Abstract

The Leptarctinae are an enigmatic subfamily of mustelids present in North America and Eurasia during the Miocene (Arikareean to Hemphillian North American Land Mammal Ages). Their diet and ecology have been particularly controversial. Some workers have suggested they were similar to koalas, whereas others suggested they were crushing omnivores analogous to raccoons. Leptarctus oregonensis Stock, 1930, a poorly known leptarctine from the early Barstovian, is represented by fragmented cranial elements and isolated teeth from the Mascall Formation of Oregon, and some fairly complete but undescribed material from the Olcott Formation of western Nebraska. Herein, we describe the first well-preserved skull of L. oregonensis from the type formation. Based on this new specimen, we confirm that L. oregonensis is a distinct species from L. primus Leidy, 1856 and L. ancipidens White, 1941 that is characterized by a distinct morphology of its tympanic projections and first upper molars. We are also able to describe intraspecific variation within L. oregonensis coinciding with the geographic distribution of the specimens (Oregon and Nebraska). The most variable characters are concentrated in the morphology of the frontals and the upper fourth premolar. Additional specimens will be needed to settle the debate over sexual dimorphism in this species, but this new specimen suggests that Leptarctus oregonensis, despite being one of the smallest members of the Leptarctinae, was an animal-dominated omnivore with considerable crushing ability.

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Journal of Paleontology , Volume 92 , Issue 2 , March 2018 , pp. 289 - 304
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Copyright © 2017, The Paleontological Society 

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