Dinocrocuta gigantea头骨的发现

本文记述了甘肃和政县晚中新世地层中发现的一个完整的巨鬣狗头骨;讨论了它的分类地位,修正了 Schlosser 1903年建种时的一些鉴定错误.巨鬣狗是鬣狗科中一个十分特化的成员,应代表一个独立的属.根据命名规则,我们采用 N. schmidt-Kittler 1976年所创的 Dinocrocuta. 因此,这个种应订正为 Dinocrocuta gigantea (schlosser, 1903).

DISCOVERY OF THE SKULL OF DINOCROCUTA GIGANTEA

Based on isolated teeth of unknown provenance, M. Schlosser erected a new hyaenid species: Hyaena gigantea in 1903. The mere gigantism of that species dispelled and doubt as to whether it is a valid species. However, the lack of any important additional specimens renders it extremely difficult to verify Schlosser's original identification and his conclusion concerning its affinity. In 1983 one of the prresent authors (Xie) discovered a well preserved hyaenid skull from the deposits rich in chilotheres and hipparions in Hezheng County, Gansu. The most characteristic teeth, especially P~4, of the skull are almost identical with those described by Schlosser in 1903. There is no room to doubt that the skull belongs namely to Schlosser's "Hyaena" gigantea. The skull provided us with the possibility to touch upon the issue regarding the affinity of the species.