Early Miocene bear Ballusia (Carnivora, Ursidae) from the locality Khirgis-Nur-I in Mongolia

G.F. Baryshnikov and A.V. Lavrov

Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS, 2015, 319(3): 341–350 · https://doi.org/10.31610/trudyzin/2015.319.3.341

Full text

Abstract

The maxillary fragment with two molars belonging to a small ursid from the locality of Khirgis-Nur-I in northwestern part of Mongolia (MN3) was examined. Metrical and morphological comparison of the upper dentition in representatives of the genera Ballusia and Ursavus showed remarkable similarities between the Mongolian specimen and B. elmensis from the Early Miocene of Europe. This species is divided into two subspecies: B. e. elmensis (Europe) and B. e. orientalis (Eastern Asia). The tooth morphology of Ballusia demonstrates plesiomorphic states of characters, which became more advanced in representatives of Ursavus.

Key words

Ballusia, Early Miocene, Mongolia, phylogeny, tooth morphology, Ursavus, Ursidae

Submitted June 17, 2015 · Accepted August 31, 2015 · Published September 25, 2015

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