Page 448 - My FlipBook
P. 448
458 DENTAL AXA TOM Y. ;
by a number of characters in ^\hicll they agree with the Cryjjtoproctidce ;
the distinctions betAveen them and this latter family are not so apparent.
The dental formula of CtYptoproda is I. -|, C. \, Pm. f , M. \ = 34.
The incisors and canines resemble those of the cats generally ; the first
premolar in the upper jaw is caducous, and does not usually appear in
the adult skull. The superior sectorial has a rudimental anterior basal
lobe, an internal tubercle, and a well-defined blade. The molar is a
much smaller tooth, and has an internal position, as in the hyaenas. In
the lower jaw the sectorial has a faint heel and lacks the internal tuber-
cle, and is altogether feline in its appearance.
The following extinct genera are enumerated and defined by Cope as
belono-ino; to the faxmly Nimravidce •}
I. Lateral and anterior faces of mandible continuous ; no inferior flange.
a. No anterior lobe of suj^erior sectorial ; inierior sectorial with a heel
canines sniootli.
Pm. I, M. ; inferior sectorial with internal tubercle .... . Procelurus.
I
,
Pm. f M. y ; inferior sectorial without internal tubercle .... Pseudceiurus.
,
Pm. |, M. j-; inferior sectorial without internal tubei'cle . . . Q-yptoprocta.'^
II. Lateral and anterior laces of mandible separated by a vertical angle; no infe-
rior flange ; incisors obspatulate.
((. Xo anterior lobe of superior sectorial ; inferior sectorial witli a heel land
no internal tubercle) ; incisiors truncate.
j\I. ; canine smooth Arclicdurus.
Pm. I,
2
M. ^Inrogale.
Pm. f, ^ ; canines denticulate
Pm. I, ^L I ; canines denticulate Nimravus.
III. Lateral and anterior faces of mandible separated by vertical angle ; an inferior
flange ; canines denticulate.
«. No or a small anterior basal lobe of superior sectorial ; interior sectorial
with a heel. No posterior lobes on crown of premolars.
Pm. I, M. ^ Dinictis.
Pm. f, ^L Y Pogonodon.
Hophplioneus.
Pm. '^ M. I
Emmilm.
Pm. y, M. X
Prolceurus. is known to have possessed five digits in each foot, as
Cryptoproda, and it is probable that two sub-families should be made,
since others had only fotu" in the
^"^*^^ -'^''
pes. The dentition of Procdwus
(Fig. 237) is more primitive than
Cryptoproda in the following cha-
racters : there are four premolars in
the lower jaw ; the superior sectorial
has no anterior basal lobe ; the in-
ferior sectorial has a strong heel and
an internal tubercle ; and there are
ivio true molars below.
k^i^ Pseudceiurus agrees more nearly
with Cryptoproda, but lacks one
premolar in the upper series. As
/i^^fir already ol)!^erved, the first premolar
is caducous in this latter genus, and
they may be the same. In the sec-
P/w/?«M.siw/v>»/, Fiiii., two-thirds natural size,
^ "On the Extinct Cats of America," Amn-iran KalnrdUft, Dec, 1880.
- I have combined the yimravid'r and the driipioproclidce, and have inserted this
genus where it seems to most appropriately belong.