Vishnuictis
| Vishnuictis Temporal range: Miocene–Pleistocene,
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|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Feliformia |
| Family: | Viverridae |
| Subfamily: | Viverrinae |
| Genus: | †Vishnuictis Pilgrim, 1932 |
| Type species | |
| †Vishnuictis durandi Pilgrim, 1932
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| Species[1][2][3] | |
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| Synonyms | |
|
Vishnuictis chinjiensis
Vishnuictis durandi
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Vishnuictis is an extinct genus of viverrid known from the Middle Miocene to Pleistocene of India, Pakistan, China, and Kenya.[1] It is named after Vishnu, one of the primary Hindu deities, with the Greek word ἴκτις (ίktis) "marten".
Description
[edit]V. durandi and V. salmontanus are known from multiple skulls described as overall being extremely high and slender.[1] Other species are known from multiple teeth and mandible fragments.[1][2][3] Specimens of V. plectilodous suggest a possibly omnivorous diet and a body size larger than previously thought.[3]
Distribution
[edit]The oldest known fossil record of Vishnuictis is V. africana (named after the continent of Africa) from the Muruyur Formation of Kenya, which date to the Middle Miocene.[4] In Asia, V. salmontanus has been reported from the Dhok Pathan Formation and the Yuanmou Formation (China).[1] V. plectilodous (India) and V. hasnoti (Pakistan) are also known from Dhok Pathan Formation outcrops.[3] V. hariensis is known from Late Miocene Nagri Formation (India).[5] V.? chinjiensis is reported from the Middle Miocene Chinji Formation of both India and Pakistan and is the oldest known Asian species of the genus. The species V.? durandi and V. hinduensis have been reported from the Pliocene to Pleistocene Pinjor Formation (India).[1]
Taxonomy
[edit]V. durandi and V. chinjiensis were originally assigned to Viverra,[1] a genus Vishnuictis is closely related to. V. plectilodous is the youngest known species.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Pilgrim, G. (1932). "The fossil Carnivora of India". Palaeontologia Indica, Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India. 18: 206–209.
- ^ a b Dong, Wei; Liu, Jianhui; Pan, Yuerong (2003). "A new Euprox from the Late Miocene of Yuanmou, Yunnan Province, China, with interpretation of its paleoenvironment" (PDF). Chinese Science Bulletin. 48 (5): 485. Bibcode:2003ChSBu..48..485D. doi:10.1007/BF03183257.
- ^ a b c d e Sankhyan, Anek Ram; Abbas, Sayyed Ghyour; Jasinski, Steven E.; Khan, Muhammad Akbar; Mahmood, Khalid (2025-03-22). "Rare carnivorous mammals from a diverse fossil assemblage from the Middle Siwaliks of Haritalyangar area, Himachal Pradesh, North India". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 32 (2): 14. doi:10.1007/s10914-025-09749-4. ISSN 1573-7055.
- ^ Werdelin, Lars; Peigné, Stéphane (2010). Cenozoic Mammals of Africa. University of California Press. p. 624. doi:10.1525/california/9780520257214.001.0001.
- ^ Prasad, K.N (1968). The vertebrate fauna from the Siwalik beds of Haritalyangar, Himachal Pradesh, India. Vol. 39. Manager of Publications.
General references
[edit]- Morales, Jorge; Pickford, Martin (2008). "Creodonts and carnivores from the Middle Miocene Muruyur Formation, Kipsaraman and Cheparawa, Baringo District, Kenya". Comptes Rendus Palevol. 7 (8): 487. Bibcode:2008CRPal...7..487M. doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2008.09.011.
- R., Carroll (1998). "R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution" (PDF). Sivalik Hills Fauna. doi:10.2307/3514548. JSTOR 3514548. S2CID 86406076.
- Dong, Wei; Qi, Guoqi (2013). "Hominoid-Producing Localities and Biostratigraphy in Yunnan". Fossil Mammals of Asia-Neogene Biostratigraphy and Chronology: 293–313. doi:10.7312/columbia/9780231150125.003.0011. ISBN 978-0-231-15012-5.
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